Historical
Read Historical Classics in English
10 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 The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2), A Tale of Two Cities and Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. 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.
- 10
- books
| Title | Chapters | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Catriona | 30 | B2–C2 |
| Kidnapped | 30 | B2–C2 |
| Life on the Mississippi | 60 | B2–C2 |
| Roughing It | 79 | B2–C2 |
| The Count of Monte Cristo | 117 | B2–C2 |
| The Great Gatsby | 9 | B2–C2 |
| The Prince and the Pauper | 33 | B2–C1 |
| The Yeoman Adventurer | 26 | B2–C2 |
| Twenty years after | 90 | B2–C2 |
| Under the Red Dragon: A Novel | 61 | B2–C2 |
Level B2–C2AdventureCatrionaThe classic romance novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Level B2–C2AdventureKidnappedThe classic adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Level B2–C2HistoricalLife on the MississippiThe classic adventure novel by Mark Twain.
Level B2–C2AdventureRoughing ItThe classic adventure novel by Mark Twain.
Level B2–C2AdventureThe Count of Monte CristoBetrayed and imprisoned, Edmond Dantès escapes to engineer a decade-spanning revenge.
Level B2–C2ClassicsThe Great GatsbyJazz-Age longing on Long Island, and the green light across the bay.
Level B2–C1HistoricalThe Prince and the PauperThe classic historical novel by Mark Twain.
Level B2–C2AdventureThe Yeoman AdventurerThe classic romance novel by George W.
Level B2–C2AdventureTwenty years afterThe classic adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas.
Level B2–C2RomanceUnder the Red Dragon: A NovelThe classic mystery novel by James Grant.