Classics
Read Classics Classics in English
6,942 classics books at CEFR A2 to C2 — learn English by reading the stories worth reading. Select any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration read the page aloud, and save the vocabulary you meet. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
What are the best classics classics to read in English as a learner?
The best classics classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with Émile Zola, Novelist and Reformer: An Account of His Life & Work, Æschylos Tragedies and Fragments and Âmona; The Child; And The Beast; And Others: From "The Strange Adventure of James Shervinton, and Other Stories" - 1902. Each one is labelled with a CEFR level, any word you do not know is one selection away from a translation, and the narration reads the page aloud while it highlights the words.
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Level C1ClassicsName and Fame: A NovelIn the lively spa town of Aix-les-Bains, a striking French woman and her reserved English husband navigate a tense marriage marked by passion, resentment, and the clash of contrast…
Level C1ClassicsMère Giraud's Little DaughterIn a small village, Mère Giraud faces gossip and judgment as her daughter Laure's rise to wealth stirs envy and resentment.
Level B2ClassicsMårbackaIn a grand but eerie nursery at Mårbacka, three children face restless nights with creaking beds and a haunting owl above, while their stern and awkward nursemaid Back-Kaisa strugg…
Level C1ClassicsMás vale maña que fuerza: Proverbio en un acto; with notes, exercises, and vocabularyA woman anxiously awaits her husband’s return on their anniversary, suspecting his growing distance while comparing her own marriage to a troubled couple nearby.
Level C1ClassicsMystery and Confidence: A Tale. Vol. 3A mysterious, troubled lord returns to England, haunted by memories of his lost sister, stirring unease among a close-knit circle gathered around a fire.
Level C1ClassicsMystery and Confidence: A Tale. Vol. 2Lady St.
Level C1ClassicsMysteries of Paris — Volume 02In the shadowy corners of Paris, a struggling jeweler faces a grim arrest over debts, while mysterious figures close in on his precious stones and family secrets.
Level B2ClassicsMy ÁntoniaIn the vast, sun-baked plains of Nebraska, childhood memories intertwine with the rugged landscape as Jim Burden rekindles a deep friendship with Ántonia, a spirited Bohemian girl…
Level C1ClassicsMy tussle with the devil, and other storiesDive into a realm where the spirit of a legendary storyteller returns through a Ouija board, crafting delicate, ethereal tales that blend poetic insight with the mastery of short f…
Level C1ClassicsMy study windowsStep into a world where keen observation of nature reveals simple joys and gentle humor, inviting you outdoors to explore birds, insects, and the quiet wonders of a garden alive wi…
Level B2ClassicsMy heart's in the HighlandsA spirited woman faces hardship and illness with wit and resilience as she navigates family ties and uncertain futures in the rugged Highlands.
Level C1ClassicsMy heart and my fleshIn a small town where gas lamps flicker and everyday rhythms unfold, young Luce navigates the twilight streets filled with vivid characters and whispered secrets, revealing a world…
Level C1ClassicsMy dear CorneliaAn elegant woman of refined intellect confronts the moral challenges posed by contemporary literature, debating how best to protect the youth from corrupting influences while prese…
Level C1ClassicsMy days and dreamsA sensitive young man grows up feeling like an outcast amid the artificial social world of Brighton, struggling with loneliness and the weight of convention while quietly yearning…
Level C2ClassicsMy Young Alcides: A Faded PhotographIn a faded photograph lies the memory of a young man whose life echoes the ancient labors of Hercules, entwined with family secrets, rebellion, and the struggle for inheritance ami…
Level C1ClassicsMy Year in a Log CabinA family leaves city life behind to embrace the rugged charm of an old log cabin near the Little Miami River, where rustic repairs and pioneer spirit ignite a year of adventure and…
Level B2ClassicsMy Wayward Pardner; or, My Trials with Josiah, America, the Widow Bump, and EtceteryA sharp-witted woman blows the horn for help, exposing the trials of female suffering through candid tales of her husband Josiah’s mysterious evening wanderings and her own struggl…
Level C1ClassicsMy Unknown Chum: "Aguecheek"An American traveler finds solace and inspiration in a cherished, obscure book that captures the essence of art, literature, and life through vivid sketches of foreign voyages and…
Level C1ClassicsMy Summer with Dr. Singletary: Part 2 from Volume V of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierIn a quiet New England village, the death of Dr.
Level C1ClassicsMy Summer in a GardenDiscover the quiet joys and subtle wonders of a summer spent observing nature’s rhythms and secrets in a humble garden, where simple pleasures and thoughtful reflections bring unex…
Level C1ClassicsMy ReminiscencesExplore a vivid tapestry of memory where life’s moments are painted with passion and perspective, revealing the inner journey of a soul maturing alongside its art.
Level C1ClassicsMy Recollections of Lord ByronExperience an intimate portrait of Lord Byron as seen through the eyes of a close confidante, unveiling the man behind the legend and challenging long-held misconceptions with pers…
Level C1ClassicsMy Private Menagerie: from The Works of Theophile Gautier Volume 19A lifelong affection for animals, especially cats and dogs, shapes a tender memoir filled with childhood memories, Parisian life, and the charming tales of beloved pets.
Level C1ClassicsMy New CurateWhen a beloved curate is abruptly transferred, his replacement arrives with a mysterious mix of roughness and charm, stirring the quiet parish into unexpected turmoil and revealing…
Level C1ClassicsMy Neighbors: Stories of the Welsh PeopleIn a tightly woven Welsh village, religion shapes every aspect of life—from the preacher's iron grip to the sacrifices of the faithful—revealing a community bound by faith, fear, a…
Level B2ClassicsMy Mother's Rival: Everyday Life Library No. 4Haunted by a dark family secret, Laura Tayne grows up amidst the grandeur of Tayne Abbey, grappling with the shadow cast by her father's crime.
Level C1ClassicsMy Mother's Gold Ring: Founded on FactA devoted wife watches her carpenter husband’s descent into alcoholism, as their once joyful home turns to hardship and heartache.
Level C1ClassicsMy Miscellanies, Vol. 2 (of 2)In a remote Breton village, a mysterious stranger known as the Fiend-Fisherman defies superstition and isolation, casting a shadow over the lives of the locals while harboring secr…
Level C1ClassicsMy Miscellanies, Vol. 1 (of 2)A collection of insightful essays and character sketches explores the art of conversation, social quirks, and human nature with wit and warmth, inviting readers to reflect on the e…
Level C1ClassicsMy Memoirs, Vol. VI, 1832 to 1833Step into 1830s Paris as an artist and writer navigates lavish costume balls, political unrest, and the looming threat of cholera, blending vivid social scenes with personal and hi…
Level C1ClassicsMy Memoirs, Vol. IV, 1830 to 1831Experience the turbulent streets of Paris during the July Revolution of 1830 through the eyes of a passionate observer, as barricades rise, allegiances shift, and the fate of a nat…
Level C1ClassicsMy Memoirs, Vol. III, 1826 to 1830Follow the vibrant life of a young aspiring writer navigating the Parisian literary scene of the late 1820s, encountering duels, dramatic successes, and the turbulent cultural shif…
Level C1ClassicsMy Memoirs, Vol. II, 1822 to 1825A vivid journey through early 19th-century France unveils the author's youthful struggles, artistic awakenings, and complex social encounters, painting a rich portrait of ambition…
Level B2ClassicsMy Mamie Rose: The Story of My RegenerationBorn into the harsh tenements of New York’s Fourth Ward, a man recounts his journey from illiteracy and hardship to self-belief and literary ambition, revealing the struggle and tr…
Level C1ClassicsMy Lord DukeWhen a poet discovers a distant Australian heir to a noble title, he faces a choice between duty and passion.
Level B2ClassicsMy Little SisterTwo sisters grow up in the wide, green expanse of Duncombe, where innocence mingles with a protective mother’s stern warnings and the shadows of unspoken fears.
Level C1ClassicsMy Little LadyA young traveler stranded by a train delay finds himself in the quiet village of Chaudfontaine, where a chance encounter in a sunlit garden promises to change his journey—and his l…
Level C1ClassicsMy Literary ZooDiscover the whimsical world where famous writers reveal their affection for animals and insects, blending humor, history, and heartfelt stories about their beloved literary pets.
Level C1ClassicsMy Life as an AuthorAn introspective author reluctantly opens a window into his literary life, reflecting on the challenges of autobiography and the delicate balance between personal truth and public…
Level C1ClassicsMy Life and Loves, Vol. 1 (of 4)A fearless memoir revealing a lifetime of love, defiance, and scandal, penned by a man who battles censorship and societal norms to tell his unvarnished truth about passion, art, a…
Level B2ClassicsMy Lady of the Chimney CornerIn a humble Irish village, young Anna Gilmore’s beauty, devotion, and ambition to become a schoolmistress draw both admiration and concern from her community.
Level C1ClassicsMy Lady Nobody: A NovelOn a scorching July morning, Ursula Rovers toils quietly in her garden, caught between the gentle rhythms of nature and her father’s fervent sermons about life’s spiritual battles.
Level C1ClassicsMy Lady Nicotine: A Study in SmokeA man reflects on his struggle to quit smoking, motivated by love and the promise of marriage, as he navigates the challenges of breaking a deeply ingrained habit and the changing…
Level B2ClassicsMy Lady LudlowIn a world where old customs clash with changing times, a young girl is offered refuge and companionship in the grand household of Lady Ludlow, a proud and strict matriarch navigat…
Level C1ClassicsMy Friend Pasquale, and Other StoriesA young man confronts a brutal dog-fight among coal-heavers on a desolate London road, igniting a fierce and dangerous clash that will alter his life forever.
Level C1ClassicsMy Friend Annabel LeeAn intense friendship blossoms between a young woman and Annabel Lee, a mysterious Japanese statue brought to life by the sea's haunting presence.
Level B2ClassicsMy First Book:: the experiences of Walter Besant, James Payn, W. Clark Russell, Grant Allen, Hall Caine, George R. Sims, Rudyard Kipling, A. Conan Doyle, M.E. Braddon, F.W. Robinson, H. Rider Haggard, R.M. Ballantyne, I. Zangwill, Morley Roberts, David Christie Murray, Marie Corelli, Jerome K. Jerome, John Strange Winter, Bret Harte, "Q.", Robert Buchanan, Robert Louis Stevenson, with an introduction by Jerome K. Jerome.A chance encounter in a London park sparks a heartfelt conversation between a seasoned writer and a hopeful boy named Valentine, who dreams of becoming an author to secure a better…
Level C1ClassicsMy Fire Opal, and Other TalesAlone in her home while her husband is away, a woman embraces the freedom of solitude but soon confronts unsettling noises and shadows that challenge her sense of security.