Historical
Read Historical Classics in English
1,135 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.
- 1,135
- books
Level B2AdventureAt War with Pontiac; Or, The Totem of the Bear: A Tale of Redcoat and RedskinAmid the wild forests of 18th-century New York, a young settler’s family fortifies their home against encroaching dangers as tribal rivalries and colonial tensions ignite around th…
Level B2HistoricalAt PlattsburgA young recruit embarks on his first military training at Plattsburg, grappling with the tension between his pacifist roots and the looming threat of war.
Level B2AdventureAt Aboukir and Acre: A Story of Napoleon's Invasion of EgyptAs Napoleon's French fleet threatens Egypt, two young allies stand amid ancient forts and shifting loyalties, witnessing the clash of empires where naval power and desert cavalry c…
Level B2AdventureAsoka's alibiIn the sweltering carnival season of a restless Indian border state, Quorn, the master of the mighty elephant Asoka, navigates a world of ancient customs, mad revelry, and simmerin…
Level B2RomanceAs We Sweep Through The DeepIn a time of pride and hardship, Jack Mackenzie sails away from England, leaving his family to face mounting debts and fading fortunes at the grand Grantley Hall.
Level B2AdventureArmy Boys on the Firing Line; or, Holding Back the German DriveYoung American soldiers face a relentless German assault, testing their courage and skill in fierce close-quarters combat along the front lines.
Level B2AdventureArmy Boys in France; or, From Training Camp to TrenchesAs war looms over America, a group of friends grapple with the reality of unpreparedness and the call to arms, facing the daunting challenge of transforming raw recruits into soldi…
Level B2HistoricalArius the Libyan: A Romance of the Primitive ChurchAmid the sunlit shores of ancient Cyrene, a land of beauty and intellect, a tale unfolds within a humble cross-shaped farmhouse, where faith, philosophy, and the turbulent birth of…
Level B2HistoricalArchag, the Little ArmenianA young Armenian boy navigates life at a missionary school amid the backdrop of his people's harrowing struggles during and after the Great War.
Level B2HistoricalAnnette, the Metis Spy: A Heroine of the N.W. RebellionOn the vast, untamed prairie, a young Metis maiden’s haunting song hides a brave resolve as she navigates love, danger, and rebellion.
Level B2HistoricalAnne's House of DreamsAnne Shirley, fresh from teaching and on the brink of marriage, returns to picturesque Avonlea where cherished friendships, the charm of old traditions, and the winds of modern cha…
Level B2HistoricalAnne of the IslandAs autumn ushers in change, Anne Shirley faces the bittersweet transition from childhood to adulthood, navigating friendships, farewells, and the uncertain promise of the future wh…
Level B2HistoricalAnne of AvonleaA spirited young teacher in idyllic Avonlea dreams of inspiring her students to greatness, but her peaceful world is disrupted by a gruff new neighbor whose odd habits and sharp te…
Level B2HistoricalAngelot: A Story of the First EmpireAmid the turmoil of 1811 France, Angelot navigates the harsh realities of war’s toll on rural families and the fading glories of the old empire.
Level B2RomanceAn Unwilling Maid: Being the History of Certain Episodes during the American Revolution in the Early Life of Mistress Betty Yorke, born WolcottAmid the Connecticut hills during the American Revolution, a young soldier lost behind enemy lines encounters two spirited sisters, stirring tension and unexpected connections in a…
Level B2HistoricalAn Old-Fashioned GirlA spirited young girl from the countryside arrives to stay with a city family, challenging modern fashions and attitudes with her old-fashioned charm and values, sparking both curi…
Level B2FantasyAn Entertaining History of Tom ThumbDiscover the whimsical tale of Tom Thumb, a tiny hero navigating a world much larger than himself, filled with adventure and enchantment that captivates readers of all ages.
Level B2HistoricalAn Echo Of Antietam: 1898As a regiment prepares to march from the town of Waterville to war, Lieutenant Philip King faces a poignant farewell with his beloved Grace Roberts, torn between duty, love, and th…
Level B2HistoricalAn Armenian princessIn a remote Anatolian village shadowed by ancient ruins, the lives of Turkish peasants and Armenian villagers intertwine amid traditions, rivalries, and the stirrings of change.
Level B2AdventureAmy in Acadia: A Story for GirlsA determined young woman embarks on a summer journey to Acadia with her mother and friends, seeking rest, study, and healing, while fending off persistent suitors who threaten to d…
Level B2HistoricalAmong the campsIn a Southern home during the Civil War, Christmas loses its magic as war takes its toll on a family longing for their absent father and the joy of old traditions.
Level B2AdventureAmong the Red-skins; Or, Over the Rocky MountainsWhen young Hugh goes missing in the wilderness near the Rocky Mountains, his family sets out on a tense search, facing wild beasts and the threats of the untamed frontier.
Level B2HistoricalAmong the Forest PeopleA young red squirrel, raised in captivity, longs for freedom and forest life but must learn the secret ways and delicate manners of the woodland to truly belong.
Level B2HistoricalAmong the Farmyard PeopleDiscover the lively world of farmyard animals as they share their joys, friendships, and simple adventures, revealing how much they think, feel, and help each other in their daily…
Level B2AdventureAmong Malay Pirates : a Tale of Adventure and PerilA midshipman’s dull patrol along a perilous river turns into a desperate rescue when Malay pirates collide their canoes, plunging a child into the turbulent waters.
Level B2HistoricalAmerica FirstA young boy, torn between his sheltered upbringing and the call to serve his country, faces the harsh realities of patriotism during a time of war.
Level B2MysteryAmbrose Lavendale, DiplomatAmidst wartime intrigue and whispered secrets in a bustling London bar, a peculiar little man’s unsettling laughter sparks curiosity and suspicion, drawing a diplomat into a web of…
Level B2HistoricalAll in the Day's Work: An AutobiographyBorn into a pioneering family during the financial Panic of 1857, a young girl’s early years unfold amid her parents' struggles to secure land and a future in the American West, pa…
Level B2RomanceAll for a Scrap of Paper: A Romance of the Present WarAs war erupts, a young Cornishman faces the call to defend his country while grappling with his unspoken love for Nancy, a spirited and enigmatic woman whose heart seems just out o…
Level B2HistoricalAll But Lost: A Novel. Vol. 3 of 3A driven contractor juggles vast construction projects while hiding mounting financial troubles, masking his inner turmoil behind a sharp tongue and volatile temper.
Level B2RomanceAll But Lost: A Novel. Vol. 2 of 3Amidst the fiery forges of Staffordshire, an Englishman returns to rural life just in time for a lively country wedding filled with family, flirtations, and unexpected excitement.
Level B2HistoricalAll But Lost: A Novel. Vol. 1 of 3Amid the thrilling roar of the Cambridge Lent term boat races, fierce rivalries ignite as crews battle for supremacy on the narrow river, each stroke bringing them closer to glory…
Level B2AdventureAlive in the jungleUnder the oppressive heat of a Bengal night, a family battles the wild jungle’s dangers and their own fears as a fierce tiger roams nearby and jackals howl in the darkness, threate…
Level B2AdventureAladdin and the Magic LampA careless young boy is lured by a mysterious magician to a hidden cave, where a magical lamp and unimaginable treasures await.
Level B2AdventureAir Service boys flying for FranceTwo friends fueled by passion and patriotism train as aviators during World War I, aiming to become heroes in the skies.
Level B2MysteryAir Service Boys over the Atlantic; Or, The Longest Flight on RecordTwo young American aviators, skilled and daring, take to the skies during the final year of World War I, facing deadly missions, enemy pilots, and harrowing battles as they strive…
Level B2AdventureAir Service Boys in the Big Battle; Or, Silencing the Big GunsTwo young aviators, freshly honored for daring feats over enemy lines, await new orders near Paris, eager to return to the skies.
Level B2AdventureAir Service Boys Over the Rhine; Or, Fighting Above the CloudsAmid the perilous skies over wartime France, young aviators Tom and Jack await the return of their squadron after a daring night raid on German lines, facing the chilling reality o…
Level B2AdventureAir Service Boys Over the Enemy's Lines; Or, The German Spy's SecretTwo young American aviators stationed in war-torn France confront the shadowy threat of a cunning German spy lurking near their aviation camp, as they navigate the dangers and unce…
Level B2AdventureAir Service Boys Flying for Victory; Or, Bombing the Last German StrongholdTwo daring young American pilots take to the skies over the Argonne Forest in 1918, facing relentless German forces and deadly battles to turn the tide in the final push of World W…
Level B2AdventureAhead of the ArmyAs distant cannon fire signals the outbreak of war along the Rio Grande, a young lieutenant and his fellow officers brace for the challenges ahead in a conflict that will shape the…
Level B2HistoricalAfter TapsIn a Baltimore apartment during the Civil War, a spirited young woman dreams of joining the Union troops, while a patriotic standard bearer returns home bearing hopes and challenge…
Level B2AdventureAfar in the ForestIn a wild, untamed forest on the edge of civilization, a determined family braves harsh wilderness and the threat of hostile forces to carve out a new home.
Level B2AdventureAdventures in AlaskaVenture into the rugged wilderness of Alaska during the intense Nome gold rush, where a missionary lives alongside miners, braves harsh conditions, and hunts to survive.
Level B2AdventureAdrift in the Wilds; Or, The Adventures of Two Shipwrecked BoysTwo sixteen-year-old cousins, Elwood and Howard, reunite for a summer journey from Brooklyn to their families in booming California, accompanied by their loyal guardian Tim O'Roone…
Level B2HistoricalAdrift in New York: Tom and Florence Braving the WorldIn a wealthy New York household haunted by the mysterious disappearance of a young heir, family tensions rise as hope and suspicion collide.
Level B2AdventureAcross the Cameroons: A Story of War and AdventureTwo boys from different worlds forge a deep friendship amid country shoots and woodland adventures, only to face tension when a proud German officer arrives at their estate.
Level B2AdventureAcross TexasWhen Herbert Watrous’s health falters, his friend Nick Ribsam’s wholesome country life offers hope and healing.