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 C1ClassicsLa Mere Bauche: From Tales of All CountriesIn the secluded Pyreneean valley of Vernet, La Mère Bauche runs a strict yet honest hotel famed for its healing thermal baths, attracting weary souls seeking renewal amid rugged mo…
Level B2ClassicsLa GrenadiereNestled on the scenic banks of the Loire, La Grenadiere is an ancient vineyard estate where the beauty of nature and the echoes of history intertwine among terraced cliffs and lush…
Level C1ClassicsL'AssommoirIn a grim Parisian neighborhood, Gervaise waits in vain for her absent lover, grappling with heartbreak and hardship as she tends to her sleeping children in a cramped, shabby room…
Level C1ClassicsL'Arrabiata and Other TalesAmid the misty dawn by Vesuvius, a determined young woman named Laurella embarks on a journey to Capri, carrying humble goods and secrets, alongside a kindly priest whose presence…
Level C1ClassicsKwan-yinIn a dimly lit temple, silent priests and acolytes worship the golden, impassive face of Kwan-yin, goddess of mercy, unaware as her expression shifts to terror and a mysterious voi…
Level C1ClassicsKwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange ThingsStep into a realm where ancient Japanese legends and ghostly spirits come alive, revealing a world both familiar and otherworldly.
Level C1ClassicsKotto: Being Japanese Curios, with Sundry CobwebsStep into a world of eerie Japanese folklore and haunted waterfalls, where a brave mother faces chilling supernatural voices to retrieve a sacred offering box—only to uncover a ter…
Level C1ClassicsKobiety (Women): A Novel of Polish LifeBasking in the warmth of a summer forest, a woman wrestles between wild dreams and the harsh embrace of life, while a determined rider named Janusz trails her secret path.
Level C1ClassicsKnut HamsunExplore the roots of a solitary wanderer shaped by Norway's rugged landscapes and rich traditions, torn between a proud peasant heritage and the wild, unpredictable spirit of the n…
Level C1ClassicsKnocking the NeighborsTwo small-town merchants, pillars of their dry community, secretly yearn for wild city adventures each autumn.
Level C1ClassicsKnight-errantTwo lifelong friends, an optimistic Italian and a pragmatic German, celebrate their new status as lawyers in vibrant Naples, setting the stage for a tale of ambition, friendship, a…
Level C1ClassicsKitty CarstairsIn a quiet village, Kitty Carstairs finds fascination in the nightly rush of the London mail train, while reconnecting with Colin Hayward, a young man grappling with family expecta…
Level C1ClassicsKitty Alone: A Story of Three Fires (vol. 2 of 3)In a restless market town, Pasco Pepperill wrestles with risky deals and mounting debts, while young Kitty faces the challenges of a constrained life and complicated relationships.
Level C1ClassicsKitty Alone: A Story of Three Fires (vol. 1 of 3)In a bustling Devon estuary, the quirky and determined Jason Quarm navigates life with his stubborn donkey, Neddy, while weaving through the lively community at Coombe Cellars.
Level C1ClassicsKissing the Rod: A Novel. (Vol. 3 of 3)A man faces devastating revelations and the fallout of a dark family secret after the death of his father-in-law.
Level C1ClassicsKissing the Rod: A Novel. (Vol. 2 of 3)Amid preparations for a high-society wedding, Ellen and Hester navigate the tensions between love, family expectations, and societal manners as Robert’s choice of bride, the elegan…
Level C1ClassicsKismetIn the bustling streets of ancient Baghdad, a beggar named Hajj navigates fate’s unpredictable tides with wit and resilience.
Level B2ClassicsKipps: The Story of a Simple SoulA young boy raised by his aunt and uncle in a small town navigates the mysteries of his past and the rigid manners of society as he grows up.
Level B2ClassicsKingsworth; or, The Aim of a LifeIn windswept Kingsworth House, two brothers grapple with family legacy and fractured loyalties as one prepares to marry an heiress and assume stewardship of their ancestral estate,…
Level C1ClassicsKing of the CastleA young woman navigates the expectations of family, love, and societal standing amid the tensions of a thriving quarry business.
Level C1ClassicsKing of CamargueIn the wild Camargue, a mysterious gypsy queen confronts Livette, a young woman on the brink of marriage, demanding oil and hinting at dark secrets and unsettling futures.
Level C1ClassicsKing Lear's Wife; The Crier by Night; The Riding to Lithend; Midsummer-Eve; Laodice and DanaëStep into ancient halls where queens and warriors navigate power, loyalty, and betrayal through richly woven scenes and haunting atmospheres.
Level C2ClassicsKing LearA aging king decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, sparking a tense battle for power and loyalty that will unravel family bonds and ignite a tragic struggle for…
Level C1ClassicsKimiko, and Other Japanese SketchesStep into the mysterious, lantern-lit Street of the Geisha, where Kimiko, a celebrated and clever geisha, navigates the delicate arts of beauty, tradition, and human nature, reveal…
Level C1ClassicsKeynotesAmidst a serene wilderness, a sharp-witted woman and a keen fisherman strike up an unexpected encounter, blending nature’s tranquility with the intrigue of human complexity and the…
Level C1ClassicsKept in the DarkIn a genteel Exeter setting, Cecilia Holt’s carefree life with her mother is upended when the charming yet prideful Sir Francis Geraldine arrives, igniting a passionate engagement…
Level C1ClassicsKent Knowles: QuahaugA reluctant storyteller from Bayport, known as "The Quahaug," struggles to find the right place to begin his tale, weaving local color and small-town characters into a charming, un…
Level C1ClassicsKennedy SquareIn a fragrant, sunlit Kennedy Square of the late 1850s, Todd, a loyal and lively young servant, eagerly awaits the return of his master from a hunting trip, revealing a world of ol…
Level C1ClassicsKenelm Chillingly — CompleteIn a restless marriage marked by mutual tolerance and a longed-for heir, Sir Peter Chillingly faces the looming threat of a greedy cousin eager to claim his estate.![Cover of Keeping watch [Night watches, Part 2.] by W. Jacobs](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da6jmvipmtvc73csnnkg.webp)
Level C1ClassicsKeeping watch [Night watches, Part 2.]A wary night-watchman is tasked with guarding a skipper's daughter, whose secret love letters have sparked her father's fierce jealousy.
Level B2ClassicsKeeping up with LizzieIn a small Connecticut village, ambition and social rivalry ignite as Lizzie's lavish education and lifestyle spark a costly competition among townsfolk determined to keep up with…
Level C1ClassicsKeatsExplore the life and works of a beloved Romantic poet through detailed accounts, letters, and unpublished materials that reveal the man behind the verses and the evolving understan…
Level B2ClassicsKatherine's SheavesAt Hilton Seminary, Katherine Minturn arrives as a poised new junior, quickly capturing the attention and curiosity of her fellow students and teachers alike.
Level C1ClassicsKatherine Lauderdale; Vol. 2 of 2Caught between duty and desire, a young woman confronts the powerful patriarch of her family after making a bold, unconventional choice—testing loyalty, love, and the limits of inf…
Level C1ClassicsKatherine Lauderdale; Vol. 1 of 2In a world of contrasts and concealed depths, John Ralston grapples with restless temper and inherited melancholy while navigating society and complex family ties, all under the wa…
Level C1ClassicsKate Vernon: A Tale. Vol. 3 (of 3)A young woman faces a sudden, devastating crisis when her beloved grandfather falls gravely ill, forcing her to confront fear, loss, and resilience amid uncertain hope.
Level C1ClassicsKate Vernon: A Tale. Vol. 2 (of 3)Kate Vernon navigates the quiet rhythms of her secluded life, grappling with the unexpected void left by Captain Egerton's departure and a haunting letter from India.
Level B2ClassicsKate MulhallJourney westward on the perilous Oregon Trail with Kate Mulhall, facing treacherous river crossings, hostile encounters, and the struggle to build new lives in the untamed Northwes…
Level C1ClassicsKate Coventry: An AutobiographyA spirited young woman navigates Victorian society’s strict rules and expectations, challenging propriety with daring rides and bold friendships, all while contending with her aust…
Level C1ClassicsKate Carnegie and Those MinistersAmid the bustling Muirtown Station, southern immigrants arrive to the rugged Scottish Highlands, where character and homecoming collide.
Level B2ClassicsKarma: A Re-incarnation Play: In Prologue, Epilogue & Three ActsIn a London home shadowed by illness and political tension, a devoted husband resigns his post in Egypt to stay by his ailing wife's side, while mysterious dreams and the looming c…
Level C1ClassicsKansas Women in LiteratureDiscover the inspiring stories of Kansas women whose talents and passions shape education, literature, and social progress—from a math educator finding romance in numbers to poets…
Level B2ClassicsKangarooIn a sunlit Australian park, a curious encounter unfolds between local workmen and a reserved foreign couple, revealing subtle tensions and cultural contrasts beneath everyday inte…
Level C1ClassicsKaiuolaniIn a Hawaii caught between tradition and change, a queen faces political turmoil and divided loyalties as she strives to unite her people under her reign.
Level C1ClassicsKafir Stories: Seven Short StoriesIn a South African canteen, a policeman and a recently released convict discuss a puzzling decline in sheep thefts, uncovering tensions and secrets in a land where tradition and la…
Level B2ClassicsJustice is a womanIn the shadow of a revered judge’s legacy, a young lawyer navigates the traditions and tensions of a prestigious law firm, where a mysterious woman with a cold gaze seeks justice—a…
Level C1ClassicsJusticeIn a lawyer’s office, a desperate woman seeks help for a troubled junior clerk whose life spirals into chaos.
Level C1ClassicsJust a girlIn a rowdy mining camp where violence and chaos reign, a mysterious postman arrives with an unexpected bundle that could change everything.