Historical
Read Historical Classics in English
829 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 Zigzag Journeys in Northern Lands;: The Rhine to the Arctic; A Summer Trip of the Zigzag Club Through Holland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, Yule-Tide Yarns and Youth. 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 B2MysteryColonel Thorndyke's SecretA valuable diamond bracelet stolen from a Hindu temple brings danger and mystery to the Thorndyke family in 18th century England, where highwaymen roam and dark forces pursue a dea…
Level B2AdventureColonel Crockett, the Texan trailerIn the wilds of Texas, Colonel Crockett embarks on a thrilling bear hunt amid vast landscapes teeming with fierce animals and dangers, from majestic buffalo to hostile tribes.
Level B2HistoricalChronicles of the Schonberg-Cotta FamilyAmidst the stirring backdrop of the Reformation, a young girl chronicles her family's intimate ties to Martin Luther, revealing the struggles and nobility found not in castles or c…
Level B2HistoricalChristmas LightIn a humble Bethlehem garden, eight-year-old Naomi delights in the simple beauty of her home and the rich stories of her ancestors, setting the scene for a heartwarming journey thr…
Level B2HistoricalChildren's Stories in American Literature, 1660-1860Journey back to 1661 as a missionary reads the Bible in the Mohegan language to captivated Native children, revealing the early efforts to blend cultures through faith and storytel…
Level B2HistoricalChildren of the Market PlaceBorn amid the turmoil of Waterloo, a young Englishman nurtured by his mother’s memory and raised amidst grand ideals must leave Oxford to claim an unexpected inheritance in America…
Level B2HistoricalChildren of South AmericaExplore the vast and vibrant continent of South America through the eyes of its children, from the towering Andes to the mighty Amazon, uncovering rich cultures, natural wonders, a…
Level B2HistoricalChildhoodAwakened on his tenth birthday by the quirky tutor Karl Ivanitch, a young boy navigates the bittersweet world of childhood, torn between annoyance and affection, bad dreams and bri…
Level B2HistoricalChild of the RegimentAmidst the chaos of Napoleon’s wars, a little girl orphaned in battle is taken in by a fierce French regiment, growing up with soldiers as her family and facing hardships on a peri…
Level B2AdventureChester Rand; or, The New Path to FortuneIn a small Pennsylvania village, hardworking Chester Rand struggles to support his widowed mother on a meager salary, facing the harsh realities of poverty and a stingy employer.
Level B2HistoricalChatterbox Stories of Natural HistoryExplore the fascinating lives of animals from the majestic Golden Eagle to the playful American black bear, capturing their instincts, habitats, and tender bonds in vivid, engaging…
Level B2AdventureChasing an Iron Horse; Or, A Boy's Adventures in the Civil WarAmid the stormy backdrop of the Civil War, a daring band of Union soldiers plot a secret mission to capture a Confederate train in enemy territory.
Level B2AdventureCharlie Codman's Cruise: A Story for BoysFourteen-year-old Charlie Codman struggles to help his family while dreaming of education, but a chance encounter with an eccentric miser sets him on an unexpected and challenging…
Level B2HistoricalCharley's Museum: A Story for Young PeopleA curious twelve-year-old boy receives a special attic museum filled with exotic shells and natural wonders from his uncle, inspiring him to explore the fascinating creatures behin…
Level B2AdventureCharge! A Story of Briton and BoerAmidst a rugged frontier homestead, a sudden warning of mounted men sets a family on alert, blending the challenges of pioneering life with the looming threat of conflict.
Level B2RomanceChantemerleIn the shadow of the Vendéan War, a young woman caught between courtly duty and forbidden love finds herself torn as political tensions rise and loyalty is tested.
Level B2RomanceCavalry Curt; Or, The Wizard Scout of the ArmyA fearless Union scout races through enemy lines in war-torn Georgia, defying capture with daring skill and unyielding spirit.
Level B2AdventureCattle-Ranch to College: The True Tales of a Boy's Adventures in the Far WestA cattleman races to warn a frontier town of an impending Indian attack, sparking tense preparations in the wild and lawless West.
Level B2HistoricalCatharine's perilAs Napoleon's army sets Moscow ablaze during its 1812 invasion of Russia, young Catharine Somoff becomes lost and alone amid the chaos.
Level B2HistoricalCathalina at GreycliffIn a summer home filled with family ties and tender moments, Cathalina Van Buskirk navigates the joys and trials of youth, longing for change amid the familiar rhythms of school, m…
Level B2HistoricalCast Upon the BreakersA wealthy young ward discovers his guardian has squandered his inheritance, leaving him penniless and forced to face a harsh reality.
Level B2AdventureCast Away in the Cold: An Old Man's Story of a Young Man's Adventures, as Related by Captain John Hardy, MarinerAn ancient mariner known as Captain Hardy returns to a small village, sparking curiosity and adventure among three eager children.
Level B2AdventureCarry On! A Story of the Fight for BagdadIn the ancient, desolate plains of Mesopotamia, two men land an aeroplane on a forgotten tell, awakening echoes of a long-lost civilization as they navigate a modern battle for Bag…
Level B2AdventureCarried Off: A Story of Pirate TimesA young farm boy’s restless spirit yearns for adventure beyond his quiet village, set against the backdrop of pirate-infested waters and historic coastal strongholds.
Level B2AdventureCaptured by the NavajosTwo young brothers, sons of a commanding officer, face cultural clashes and unexpected friendships in a New Mexico frontier town during the Civil War.
Level B2AdventureCaptain John Crane, 1800-1815A modest New Hampshire farm boy follows his lifelong dream, leaving home to embrace the sea and command his own ship, sharing vivid tales of adventure and hardship from his years a…
Level B2AdventureCanoemates: A Story of the Florida Reef and EvergladesA determined young sailor trapped by poverty in a tropical paradise dreams of adventure beyond the Florida reefs and Everglades.
Level B2AdventureCamping on the St. Lawrence; Or, On the Trail of the Early DiscoverersFollow a group of young adventurers as they prepare to camp along the majestic St.
Level B2AdventureCampfire Girls' Lake Camp; or, Searching for New AdventuresA lively group of Camp Fire Girls gathers at their lakeside camp, blending friendship, mystery, and the promise of new adventures amid the beauty of Fern Hollow and Butter Creek.
Level B2AdventureCamp-fire and WigwamIn a rugged Missouri settlement, young Jack Carleton encounters tales of danger, friendship, and survival as he learns of Deerfoot, a mysterious Indian who once saved his father’s…
Level B2AdventureCadet Days: A Story of West PointAn adventurous young frontier boy, raised among Native tribes and rugged soldiers, dreams of earning a coveted appointment to West Point despite fierce competition and his unconven…
Level B2AdventureBy Sheer Pluck: A Tale of the Ashanti WarAmid schoolyard cricket matches and the keen eyes of a nature lover, a young boy's adventure begins to unfold, blending youthful sportsmanship with the challenges and unexpected tr…
Level B2AdventureBy Right of Conquest; Or, With Cortez in MexicoA daring English captain and his son navigate the perilous seas in the early 1500s, caught between emerging trade ambitions and the mighty Spanish conquest of Mexico.
Level B2AdventureBy Pike and Dyke: a Tale of the Rise of the Dutch RepublicIn a world torn by religious persecution and war, a young hero grows amidst the fierce struggle of the Dutch people for freedom and faith against the mighty Spanish empire, where c…
Level B2AdventureBy Conduct and Courage: A Story of the Days of NelsonAn orphaned boy with a mysterious past finds refuge with a kind fisherman in a bleak village, where childhood innocence clashes with harsh realities, setting the stage for a tale o…
Level B2AdventureBuffalo Bill, the border kingExperience the thrilling exploits of Buffalo Bill, a legendary scout and cowboy navigating the dangers of the Wild West, from deadly border conflicts to daring buffalo hunts and en…
Level B2AdventureBuffalo Bill's boy buglerIn a rugged Western town torn by fierce cattlemen-sheepmen conflicts, a notorious outlaw known as Red Dick faces trial amid rising tensions and divided loyalties.
Level B2AdventureBuffalo Bill's best betIn the rugged West, a daring gambler stakes everything—his life, his diamonds, and his wits—amid tense campfires and wild plains, where danger and high stakes collide.
Level B2AdventureBuffalo Bill and the Overland Trail: Being the story of how boy and man worked hard and played hard to blaze the white trail, by wagon train, stage coach and pony express, across the great plains and the mountains beyond, that the American republic might expand and flourishFollow the daring adventures of a boy who grows into the legendary Buffalo Bill, braving the wild plains, Indian battles, and treacherous trails to open the American West by wagon,…
Level B2AdventureBuffalo Bill among the SiouxAmid rising tensions and looming war between settlers and Sioux tribes, a daring scout races across dangerous Kansas territory carrying vital military dispatches.
Level B2AdventureBrown of Moukden: A Story of the Russo-Japanese WarAmid the vibrant streets of Moukden during the Russo-Japanese War, Ivan Brown navigates a world of clashing cultures, military tension, and personal adventure.
Level B2HistoricalBrothers: The True History of a Fight Against OddsIn a grand house brimming with secrets and society’s expectations, two brothers navigate their contrasting paths through love, honor, and adversity.
Level B2AdventureBrothers of Peril: A Story of old NewfoundlandAmid the harsh wilderness of old Newfoundland, rival fishermen, merchants, and native tribes vie for control of the lucrative fishing grounds, where greed and survival collide in a…
Level B2HistoricalBrother Against Brother; or, The Tompkins Mystery.: A Story of the Great American Rebellion.Amid thunderous skies and rugged Virginia landscapes, a weary planter named George Tompkins rides a stagecoach haunted by a mysterious, urgent command to search—setting the stage f…
Level B2HistoricalBristol Bells: A Story of the Eighteenth CenturyIn 18th-century Bristol, spirited Bryda yearns to escape her stifling farm life and seize new opportunities, while confronting family tensions and the harsh realities of rural exis…
Level B2AdventureBrave Tom; Or, The Battle That WonIn a quiet Pennsylvania village, young Tom Gordon's anticipation for the circus is shattered by sudden illness and a mysterious, urgent panic sweeping through Briggsville—an advent…
Level B2HistoricalBrave Bessie WestlandIn a time of fierce Quaker persecution, young Bessie Westland hides with her sisters in a cellar as their parents face imprisonment for their faith.
Level B2AdventureBrandon of the EngineersIn the heat of a tense military campaign, Lieutenant Richard Brandon commands a daring engineering feat, constructing a crucial pontoon bridge under pressure.