Gothic
Read Gothic Classics in English
30 gothic 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 gothic classics to read in English as a learner?
The best gothic classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with Emmeline, the Orphan of the Castle, Dracula's Guest and Confessions of an English Opium-Eater. 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.
- 30
- books
| Title | Chapters | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Emmeline, the Orphan of the Castle | 61 | C1 |
| Dracula's Guest | 10 | C1 |
| Confessions of an English Opium-Eater | 7 | C1 |
| Checkmate | 88 | C1 |
| Carmilla | 17 | C1 |
| Caleb Williams; Or, Things as They Are | 48 | C1 |
| Black magic | 35 | B2 |
| Barford Abbey, a Novel: In a Series of Letters | 46 | C1 |
| Auriol; or, The Elixir of Life | 31 | C1 |
| Anna St. Ives | 132 | C1 |
| Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American Tale | 3 | C1 |
| A Sicilian Romance | 17 | C1 |
| Andersen's Fairy Tales | 18 | A2 |
| Dracula | 27 | C1 |
| English Fairy Tales | 43 | A2 |
| Frankenstein | 28 | B2 |
| Grimms' Fairy Tales | 62 | A2 |
| Jane Eyre: An Autobiography | 38 | C1 |
| Lady Audley's Secret | 41 | C1 |
| The Blue Fairy Book | 37 | B1 |
| The King in Yellow | 29 | C1 |
| The Monk: A Romance | 12 | C1 |
| The Mysteries of Udolpho | 57 | C1 |
| The Phantom of the Opera | 26 | B2 |
| The Picture of Dorian Gray | 20 | C1 |
| The String of Pearls; Or, The Barber of Fleet Street. A Domestic Romance. | 177 | B2 |
| The Turn of the Screw | 24 | C2 |
| The Woman in White | 53 | C1 |
| Undine | 10 | B2 |
| Wuthering Heights | 34 | C1 |
Level C1GothicEmmeline, the Orphan of the CastleIn the decaying Mowbray Castle, young Emmeline, orphaned and neglected, grows up under the care of loyal servants, unaware of her mysterious lineage and the secrets tied to the nob…
Level C1FantasyDracula's GuestOn Walpurgis Nacht, a traveler defies warnings and ventures down a forbidding road leading to an unholy village, where restless horses and eerie sounds hint at dark secrets lurking…
Level C1GothicConfessions of an English Opium-EaterA philosopher’s intimate account reveals the dark allure and torment of opium addiction, exploring the struggle between self-indulgence and self-conquest amid a society secretly bo…
Level C1MysteryCheckmateAmid the shadowed grandeur of Mortlake Hall, a mysterious figure named Longcluse watches a gathering where whispered talk of a brutal murder stirs unease.
Level C1FantasyCarmillaIn a remote Styrian castle surrounded by ancient forests and eerie ruins, a young woman recalls the strange and unsettling events that have haunted her solitary life—events that hi…
Level C1GothicCaleb Williams; Or, Things as They AreA young secretary uncovers a dark secret about his cultured employer, plunging him into a dangerous world of power, betrayal, and relentless pursuit.
Level B2HorrorBlack magicIn a sunlit Flemish house filled with mysterious relics and shadows of decay, a solitary young man meticulously gilds a wooden devil, setting green glass eyes that seem to awaken s…
Level C1GothicBarford Abbey, a Novel: In a Series of LettersA grieving ward is urged to leave her sorrow-filled home and join companions at Barford Abbey, where the shadows of loss and secrets linger in the gothic halls.
Level C1MysteryAuriol; or, The Elixir of LifeOn the cusp of a new century, a mysterious figure steals grisly trophies from London’s battlements, drawing the attention of Doctor Lamb, an enigmatic alchemist whose dark secrets…
Level C1GothicAnna St. IvesEmbark on a spirited journey through bustling cities and enchanting landscapes as a young woman anticipates reunion, romance, and unexpected intrigues during her travels from Engla…
Level C1GothicAlonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American TaleTwo young Yale graduates forge an unbreakable friendship amid the turmoil of the American Revolution, but when Alonzo steps in to escort Edgar’s sister Melissa, their lives intertw…
Level C1GothicA Sicilian RomanceIn a crumbling Sicilian castle, the noble Mazzini family’s dark past unfolds through tales of luxury, vice, and complex family dynamics.
Level A2Children'sAndersen's Fairy TalesEighteen timeless tales including The Emperor's New Clothes, The Snow Queen, and The Little Match Girl.
Level C1HorrorDraculaLetters and journals trace a vampire's voyage from the Carpathians to London.
Level A2Children'sEnglish Fairy TalesClassic English folk tales collected by Joseph Jacobs — Jack and the Beanstalk, Tom Tit Tot, The Three Little Pigs and more.
Level B2HorrorFrankensteinA young scientist builds a living being from death — and abandons what he makes.
Level A2Children'sGrimms' Fairy TalesSixty-two beloved folk tales — from Hansel and Gretel to Rumpelstiltskin — retold in simple English.
Level C1RomanceJane Eyre: An AutobiographyThe classic romance novel by Charlotte Brontë.
Level C1MysteryLady Audley's SecretThe classic mystery novel by M.
Level B1Children'sThe Blue Fairy BookAndrew Lang's celebrated anthology gathering favourite fairy tales from around the world — Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and many more.
Level C1HorrorThe King in YellowThe classic mystery novel by Robert W.
Level C1HorrorThe Monk: A RomanceThe classic horror novel by M.
Level C1GothicThe Mysteries of UdolphoThe classic mystery novel by Ann Ward Radcliffe.
Level B2GothicThe Phantom of the OperaThe classic mystery novel by Gaston Leroux.
Level C1GothicThe Picture of Dorian GrayA portrait ages while its beautiful owner does not — Wilde’s only novel.
Level B2HorrorThe String of Pearls; Or, The Barber of Fleet Street. A Domestic Romance.The classic mystery novel by Thomas Peckett Prest.
Level C2GothicThe Turn of the ScrewThe classic mystery novel by Henry James.
Level C1MysteryThe Woman in WhiteThe classic mystery novel by Wilkie Collins.
Level B2FantasyUndineThe classic romance novel by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué.
Level C1GothicWuthering HeightsThe classic gothic novel by Emily Brontë.