Historical
Read Historical Classics in English
100 historical 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 historical classics to read in English as a learner?
The best historical classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with Thorstein of the mere, Thoroughbreds and Thomas Lord Cromwell. 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.
- 100
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Level C2HistoricalThe Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume II.Dive into the vivid lives and dramatic works of Britain and Ireland’s poets, from Anthony Brewer’s turbulent tragedies to the stirring historical and literary insights that shaped…
Level C2HistoricalThe Literary Remains of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Volume 3Delve into profound theological reflections, prayers, and ecclesiastical debates exploring the nature of faith, sacraments, and spiritual communion.
Level C2HistoricalThe Lay of Marie and Vignettes in VerseIn a thirteenth-century court, a gifted Anglo-Norman minstrel named Marie faces the turmoil of lost Normandy, weaving her noble heritage, romance, and haunting history into a poign…
Level C2HistoricalThe Judgement of ValhallaIn the brutal crucible of war, a deserter faces both earthly execution and a chilling judgment in the afterlife.
Level C2HistoricalThe GeniusIn 1840 Russia, Princess Sophia, trapped in a loveless marriage, prays desperately for a child to ease her loneliness—when a mysterious, radiant visitor appears, offering a chance…
Level C2RomanceThe Flourishing of Romance and the Rise of Allegory: (Periods of European Literature, vol. II)Explore the vibrant interplay of romance and allegory across medieval Europe, as French, English, German, Provençal, and Icelandic literatures shape a rich tapestry of literary evo…
Level C2AdventureThe Eye of ZeitoonAmidst ancient cities and brewing conflict, a fever-stricken adventurer battles both illness and heritage in a land rich with history and danger.
Level C2HistoricalThe Extant Odes of PindarDive into the vivid world of ancient Greece through these powerful odes that celebrate victors, myths, and the grandeur of Hellenic life.
Level C2HistoricalThe Elizabethan Stage, Vol. 3Explore the intricate world of Elizabethan theatre, revealing how diverse stages and evolving practices shaped the dramatic spectacles performed both publicly and at Court, amidst…
Level C2HistoricalThe Elizabethan Stage, Vol. 2Explore the intricate history and organization of Elizabethan theatrical companies, revealing how boy actors and provincial troupes shaped the vibrant world of early English drama…
Level C2HistoricalThe Duke of GandiaAmid the turbulent Vatican of 1497, Cæsar Borgia wrestles with his ambitions and complex family ties as the son of Pope Alexander VI, navigating power, sin, and desire in a world w…
Level C2HistoricalThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 10Descend into a frozen abyss where tormented souls endure eternal punishment, their frozen anguish revealing dark betrayals and sins.
Level C2HistoricalThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 03Journey through the harrowing second circle of Hell, where lustful souls are swept endlessly by a fierce storm, and witness tragic figures caught in eternal torment as their past p…
Level C2HistoricalThe Disguising at HertfordIn the royal Christmas festivities at Hertford Castle, weary swains plead with the noble prince about the torment of marriage, revealing sharp-witted wives and the comic strife tha…
Level C2HistoricalThe Deipnosophists; or, Banquet of the Learned of Athenæus, Vol. 3 (of 3)Philosophers and poets debate the nature of pleasure, luxury, and virtue, contrasting the austere lives of ancient heroes with the indulgent customs of their present day.
Level C2AdventureThe DeerslayerIn the untamed wilderness of colonial New York, two foresters navigate dense forests and hidden dangers, where every step reveals the raw beauty and peril of nature untouched by ci…
Level C2HistoricalThe Decameron (Day 6 to Day 10): Containing an hundred pleasant NovelsSeven noble ladies and three gentlemen share a series of witty, unexpected tales over ten days, each revealing clever repartees and sharp insights that turn taunts into triumphs, b…
Level C2HistoricalThe Death of WallensteinIn the midst of the Thirty Years' War, a powerful general delves into astrology and secret negotiations to shape his fate, but when his confidant is captured, his carefully laid pl…
Level C2HistoricalThe Cruise of the Catalpa: A PoemA stirring poetic account unfolds aboard the ship Catalpa, capturing the daring rescue of Fenian prisoners from Fremantle, Australia.
Level C2HistoricalThe Columbiad: A PoemEmbark on a poetic journey through the recent, monumental events of history, where the epic unfolds between Columbus and Hesper in a confined yet profound space, blending patriotic…
Level C2HistoricalThe CloudsA worried father, drowning in debt from his son's extravagant horseriding habits, seeks salvation by sending him to a strange "thinking-shop" where philosophers teach cunning rheto…
Level C2HistoricalThe Case of Mrs. CliveAmidst the 18th-century London theater’s power struggles and restrictive licensing laws, a fiery actress fights for her craft and dignity against managerial control, revealing the…
Level C2HistoricalThe BruceDive into the stirring tale of Robert the Bruce’s struggle for Scottish independence, told through medieval manuscripts that reveal battles, betrayals, and the forging of a nation’…
Level C2HistoricalThe Bride of Fort Edward: Founded on an Incident of the RevolutionAmid the stirring backdrop of the American Revolution, young soldiers grapple with loss, love, and the fierce struggle for freedom, as peaceful valleys conceal the brewing crisis o…
Level C2HistoricalThe Ballad of Ensign JoyAmid the grind of wartime duty and the yearning for glory, an earnest young ensign and a reserved woman navigate love, letters, and the harsh realities of the front, capturing the…
Level C2HistoricalThe Arte of English PoesieDelve into the art of poetry with a detailed exploration of poets, their craft, and the divine inspiration behind their creations, revealing how poets shape worlds from imagination…
Level C2HistoricalThe Advance of English Poetry in the Twentieth CenturyExplore the evolution of English poetry as it responds to the upheavals of the early twentieth century, from the impact of the Great War to the voices of new and established poets…
Level C2HistoricalTamburlaine the Great — Part 2Amidst a vast clash of empires, Tamburlaine's relentless conquests ignite a brutal struggle for power across Asia and Europe.
Level C2HistoricalTamburlaine the Great — Part 1From humble shepherd to feared monarch, a Scythian rises through rare and brutal conquests, earning the title "The Scourge of God" as he reshapes the world with tyrannical power an…
Level C2HistoricalSumerian Liturgies and PsalmsExplore the ancient temple library of Nippur through mythological and theological hymns that reveal early Sumerian beliefs on creation, paradise lost, and divine kingship, shedding…
Level C2HistoricalShelburne Essays, Third SeriesExplore the intimate letters and poetry of William Cowper, revealing the delicate interplay between his personal struggles and the understated elegance of 18th-century verse, offer…
Level C2HistoricalRoderick, the last of the GothsIn the shadowed dawn of a fading empire, a lone Gothic prince wrestles with destiny, penance, and the relentless march of history.
Level C2HistoricalRienzi, the Last of the Roman TribunesIn turbulent medieval Rome, Rienzi rises as the last Tribune, leading a desperate revolution to reclaim freedom and justice for the oppressed people.
Level C2HistoricalPoems in Wartime: Part 4 From Volume III of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierIn the tumult of civil war, heartfelt poems confront the agony and hope of a nation divided, exploring sacrifice, liberty, and the fight against slavery with solemn resolve and sti…
Level C2HistoricalPharsalia; Dramatic Episodes of the Civil WarsAmidst the shattered streets and abandoned fields of Rome, rival armies of kin clash in a brutal civil war that threatens to tear an empire apart.
Level C2HistoricalParadise RegainedA divine battle unfolds as the Son of God faces the Tempter's cunning in the wilderness, testing obedience and faith to reclaim paradise lost by one man's disobedience.
Level C2HistoricalParadise LostIn a cosmic battle between Heaven and Hell, fallen angels plot eternal war after their fiery exile, while mankind’s first disobedience sets the stage for a profound struggle over f…
Level C2HistoricalNuts to crack; or Quips, quirks, anecdote and facete of Oxford and Cambridge ScholarsDive into the witty world of Oxford and Cambridge scholars, where quips, quirks, and anecdotes reveal the lively traditions and humorous debates behind these historic institutions.
Level C2HistoricalMirror for Magistrates, Volume 2, Part 2Explore the lives and fates of ten renowned princes through poetic histories that blend careful scholarship with vivid storytelling, offering moral lessons drawn from the triumphs…
Level C2HistoricalLibrary of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 05Explore the lives and works of history's literary and cultural giants through curated letters, speeches, and essays spanning diverse genres and eras.
Level C2HistoricalKing Richard IIIIn a kingdom basking in newfound peace, a deformed and cunning duke plots to seize power through deceit and treachery, setting sibling against sibling in a deadly game of ambition…
Level C2HistoricalKing Richard IIPower struggles ignite as King Richard II confronts accusations of treason between nobles, setting the stage for a fierce clash of loyalty, honor, and wrath in a kingdom on the bri…
Level C2HistoricalKing JohnA royal dispute erupts as King John faces a bold claim from France over his kingdom and territories, threatening war and forcing him to defend his crown against his nephew Arthur’s…
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry VIIIAmidst political intrigue and royal spectacle, witness the grandeur and tragic weight of King Henry VIII’s reign as noble figures navigate power, loyalty, and the swift fall from g…
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry VI, Part 3Amidst the turmoil of a kingdom torn by war, the ambitious House of York seizes the palace, challenging King Henry VI's fragile reign and igniting a deadly struggle for the throne.
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry VI, Part 2Amid political turmoil and shifting alliances, King Henry VI welcomes Queen Margaret, setting the stage for a kingdom on the brink of conflict and intrigue.
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry VI, Part 1As England mourns the death of the valiant King Henry V, power struggles ignite among nobles and factions vie for control, setting the stage for a turbulent reign filled with war,…
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry VA kingdom’s fate hangs on the brink as bishops debate a bill threatening the Church’s lands, while a prologue invites you to imagine the thunderous clash of Henry V’s campaign in F…