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 B2HistoricalA Little Dusky HeroIn the sweltering heat of Tampa, a ragged young boy named George Washington McKinley Jones arrives, determined to prove his heroism despite his hardships.
Level B2HistoricalA Lincoln ConscriptAs the Civil War rages around Gettysburg, a patriotic village rallies its young men for military drills, but tensions rise when a boy with a controversial family background joins t…
Level B2AdventureA Lieutenant at EighteenIn the midst of the Civil War’s chaos, a courageous teenager rises swiftly through the ranks of the Riverlawn Cavalry, facing lawless guerrillas and fierce battles in loyal Kentuck…
Level B2AdventureA Jacobite Exile: Being the Adventures of a Young Englishman in the Service of Charles the Twelfth of SwedenAmidst the fierce Jacobite loyalties and political intrigues of early 18th-century England, a young Englishman embarks on daring adventures in the service of Charles XII of Sweden,…
Level B2AdventureA Hero of Liége: A Story of the Great WarAs Europe teeters on the brink of war, Kenneth Amory navigates the tense atmosphere of a family business divided by loyalty and suspicion.
Level B2HistoricalA Fortunate TermIn a bleak, snowy northern town, delicate Mavis battles bronchitis while dreaming of the warm, blooming gardens of Durracombe.
Level B2HistoricalA Day in a Colonial HomeStep into the heart of colonial life where the kitchen is more than a room—it's the family's gathering place, alive with warmth, work, and stories.
Level B2HistoricalA Daughter of the UnionIn the midst of the Civil War, a determined group of young girls led by Jeanne Vance channel their patriotism into making socks and handkerchiefs, then hatch a plan to hold a fair,…
Level B2AdventureA Dash from Diamond CityIn the rugged diamond fields of Kimberley, three young men balance the quiet tension of office work with the looming threat of conflict, as one prepares to trade his pen for a rifl…
Level B2HistoricalA Child of the OrientA young Greek girl grows up amid the turbulent clash of cultures and loyalties under Ottoman rule, torn between love for her friend and duty to her heritage.
Level B2HistoricalA Captured Santa ClausIn a Virginia homestead during the Civil War, Christmas loses its joy as blockades prevent gifts and Major Stafford’s absence weighs heavy.
Level B2HistoricalA Captain in the Ranks: A Romance of AffairsAmid the final desperate moments of the Confederate Army's retreat, a determined captain leads his small band of artillerymen into battle, embodying the spirit of a war-ravaged Vir…
Level B2HistoricalA Busy Year at the Old Squire'sA dedicated young teacher transforms a rural schoolhouse with passion, lively lessons, and colorful maps, inspiring even the most reluctant students to discover their purpose and e…
Level B2AdventureA Boy's Trip Across the PlainsA young boy and his ailing mother struggle through poverty and hardship in a harsh Missouri village, clinging to hope and faith as they face illness and loneliness.
Level B2AdventureA Boy's RideIn turbulent 13th-century England, a fearless fourteen-year-old boy defies his priestly destiny to seek knighthood, riding through danger with only his wits and chain mail for prot…
Level B2HistoricalA Blot on the ScutcheonIn 1780 Kent, rebellious heir Michael Berrington faces his grandfather's scorn and discovers a mysterious new friendship when he rescues a young girl named Gabrielle, whose spirite…
Level B2Historical"To let"A young woman joins her brother’s family in colonial Lucknow, where the dazzling social life masks the harsh realities of the Indian summer and the struggles of an Anglo-Indian hou…
Level B2Historical"Run To Seed": 1891In the aftermath of the Civil War, a poor Southern family struggles with loss, poverty, and the weight of history as they try to rebuild their shattered lives amidst judgment and h…
Level B2Historical"Puffing Billy" and the Prize "Rocket": or, the story of the Stephensons and our Railways.Follow the humble beginnings of George Stephenson, a coal miner’s son with a keen mind and compassionate heart, as he rises through hardship to shape the future of railways and ste…
Level B2Adventure"Forward, March": A Tale of the Spanish-American WarIn the tense days before the Spanish-American War, Ridge Norris—a gentle, cultured man torn between luxury and duty—faces family conflicts and political intrigue, while the call to…
Level B2Historical"Bobbie", a Story of the ConfederacyOn a grand Southern plantation before the Civil War, cheerful young Bobbie, marked by a broken nose and boundless courage, grows up amid lavish horse races and deep bonds, while hi…
Level B2AdventureCatrionaThe classic romance novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Level B2AdventureKidnappedThe classic adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Level B2HistoricalLife on the MississippiThe classic adventure novel by Mark Twain.
Level B2AdventureRoughing ItThe classic adventure novel by Mark Twain.
Level B2AdventureThe Count of Monte CristoBetrayed and imprisoned, Edmond Dantès escapes to engineer a decade-spanning revenge.
Level B2ClassicsThe Great GatsbyJazz-Age longing on Long Island, and the green light across the bay.
Level B2HistoricalThe Prince and the PauperThe classic historical novel by Mark Twain.
Level B2AdventureThe Yeoman AdventurerThe classic romance novel by George W.
Level B2AdventureTwenty years afterThe classic adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas.
Level B2RomanceUnder the Red Dragon: A NovelThe classic mystery novel by James Grant.