Historical
Read Historical Classics in English
3,648 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 With Axe and Rifle, Winona and Winning the Wilderness. 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.
- 3,648
- books
Level C1AdventureThe Cruise of the FrolicSet sail on the "Frolic" and join a lively crew navigating the thrills and challenges of yachting during a grand regatta, where camaraderie, competition, and the timeless beauty of…
Level C1HistoricalThe Cross and the Shamrock: Or, How To Defend The Faith. An Irish-American Catholic Tale Of Real Life, Descriptive Of The Temptations, Sufferings, Trials, And Triumphs Of The Children Of St. Patrick In The Great Republic Of Washington. A Book For The Entertainment And Special Instructions Of The Catholic Male And Female Servants Of The United States.Amid the trials faced by Irish-American Catholics in 19th-century America, this tale offers heartfelt guidance and encouragement, defending faith and heritage against prejudice whi…
Level C1HistoricalThe Critics Versus Shakspere: A Brief for the DefendantA passionate defense unfolds against centuries of critics who challenge Shakespeare's artistry, revealing the fierce debates over his genius, flaws, and enduring impact on literatu…
Level C1HistoricalThe Critical GameExplore the art of literary criticism as a dynamic interplay of wit, insight, and personal expression, revealing how critics shape and reflect the very works they analyze in a game…
Level C1HistoricalThe Crisis — CompleteAs Eliphalet Hopper arrives in St.
Level C1AdventureThe Crimson Sign: A Narrative of the Adventures of Mr. Gervase Orme, Sometime Lieutenant in Mountjoy's Regiment of FootAmidst the turmoil of 1689 Londonderry, a seasoned captain and a young lieutenant face divided councils and imminent battles, forging discipline and courage as they prepare to defe…
Level C1AdventureThe Crimson Conquest: A Romance of Pizarro and PeruIn the sweltering plaza of Panama, hardened soldiers and adventurers gather to hear tales of Francisco Pizarro’s South American conquests, where steel-clad cavaliers face fierce ba…
Level C1AdventureThe Crew of the Water WagtailSet sail with a ragtag crew bound for Norway, where treacherous storms and a captain’s battle with drink turn a daring voyage into a desperate fight for survival on the wild Atlant…
Level C1HistoricalThe Coward: A Novel of Society and the Field in 1863In the tense days before Gettysburg, a web of misunderstandings, secrets, and shifting loyalties unfolds among soldiers and civilians alike, revealing the complex nature of courage…
Level C1AdventureThe Covered WagonAs spring dawns in 1848, families gather at the Missouri frontier, ready to brave the perilous trail westward to Oregon.
Level C1RomanceThe Courtship of Morrice Buckler: A RomanceA bookish student revisits a tumultuous two-year period marked by adventure, intrigue, and romance, as memories of a distant Tyrolean castle and a mysterious countess come vividly…
Level C1RomanceThe Courtship of Miles Standish:: With Suggestions for Study and NotesIn a time of religious strife and exile, a determined band of Puritans embarks on a perilous journey to the New World, seeking freedom to worship and a place to build a new life am…
Level C1HistoricalThe Country DoctorA dedicated country doctor transforms a bleak, crumbling valley into a thriving community through unwavering goodness and sacrifice, while grappling with personal remorse and the c…
Level C1RomanceThe Countess Cosel: A Romance of History of the Times of Augustus the StrongAs the once-mighty Augustus the Strong mourns his lost Polish crown in a shadowed Dresden castle, court intrigues and shattered dreams unfold.
Level C1HistoricalThe Count of the Saxon Shore; or The Villa in Vectis.: A Tale of the Departure of the Romans from BritainAmidst the declining Roman Empire, soldiers at a coastal British camp grapple with delayed pay, uncertain leadership, and looming Saxon threats.
Level C1HistoricalThe Cossacks: A Tale of 1852In the quiet streets of Moscow, a restless traveler wrestles with the complexities of love and self-understanding as he prepares to leave behind a life tangled in regret and longin…
Level C1HistoricalThe CopperheadAn orphan raised as a farmhand in a rural community, the narrator grows up under the stern guidance of Abner Beech, a learned but increasingly isolated farmer whose devotion to pol…
Level C1MysteryThe Copper HouseAmid the chaos of 1917 Stockholm, a mysterious figure known only as the "Man in the Whirlpool" manipulates the deadly game of war and espionage.
Level C1HistoricalThe Convict Ship, Volume 1 (of 3)A woman recounts her extraordinary journey aboard a convict ship filled with male prisoners, revealing a gripping tale of loss, survival, and the fading era of transporting crimina…
Level C1AdventureThe Constant PrinceFive young princes of Portugal, restless for glory, debate honor, knighthood, and the chance to fight the infidel—setting the stage for a gripping tale of courage, faith, and sacri…
Level C1HistoricalThe Constable De BourbonAmid the grandeur of 16th-century France, Charles de Bourbon commands a formidable cavalry, embodying both noble birth and battlefield prowess.
Level C1HistoricalThe Conscript: A Story of the French war of 1813Amid the booming glory of Napoleon’s empire, a humble watchmaker’s apprentice is swept into the brutal reality of conscription and war, revealing the harsh human cost behind the gr…
Level C1HistoricalThe Conscript MotherAs war looms over Italy, a mother embarks on a desperate journey across the Campagna to catch a fleeting glimpse of her son, a soldier stationed in a hostile town where fear and un…
Level C1HistoricalThe Conquest: The True Story of Lewis and ClarkAmid rising tensions on the American frontier, a bold expedition sets out to chart unknown lands and navigate alliances with Native tribes.
Level C1HistoricalThe Conquest of Plassans (La Conquête de Plassans)As France teeters between religious fervor and free thought, the Catholic Church launches a powerful campaign to reclaim its influence and reshape the Republic.
Level C1HistoricalThe Conqueror: Being the True and Romantic Story of Alexander HamiltonExplore the early life and heritage of Alexander Hamilton through vivid portraits of Nevis, a flourishing Caribbean island, as the story traces the roots and remarkable character o…
Level C1HistoricalThe Connecticut Wits, and Other EssaysExplore the spirited literary circle of Yale graduates who sought to transform Connecticut’s intellectual landscape with epic poetry and satire during America’s Revolutionary era,…
Level C1HistoricalThe Conflict with Slavery: Part 1 from The Works of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume VIIA passionate call to confront the harsh realities of slavery exposes the moral failures and political complicity that sustain this brutal institution, urging urgent abolition and a…
Level C1HistoricalThe Confession of a Child of the Century — CompleteA disillusioned poet reflects on lost youth, passionate love, and the moral struggles of his era, revealing a raw portrait of a generation caught between hope and despair during th…
Level C1HistoricalThe Comrade in WhiteAmid the brutal trenches of the Great War, soldiers whisper of a mysterious figure—the Comrade in White—who appears unscathed amidst chaos, offering healing and hope in the darkest…
Level C1HistoricalThe Complete Works of Brann, the Iconoclast — Volume 12Tensions in Waco erupt into a deadly street duel between William Cowper Brann and Tom E.![Cover of The Complete Works in Philosophy, Politics and Morals of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Vol. 3 [of 3] by Benjamin Franklin](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/daf3fh8e1ofc73dhb4eg.webp)
Level C1HistoricalThe Complete Works in Philosophy, Politics and Morals of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Vol. 3 [of 3]Before the American Revolution, colonial leaders grapple with disunity and external threats, drafting a bold plan for union to strengthen defense and preserve the British American…![Cover of The Complete Works in Philosophy, Politics and Morals of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Vol. 2 [of 3] by Benjamin Franklin](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dabm8lg9638s73a2uu60.webp)
Level C1HistoricalThe Complete Works in Philosophy, Politics and Morals of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Vol. 2 [of 3]Explore the intricate dance of air, water, and particles through detailed observations on their natural properties and interactions, revealing the unseen forces shaping our atmosph…![Cover of The Complete Works in Philosophy, Politics and Morals of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Vol. 1 [of 3] by Benjamin Franklin](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da8hi5cv7nos73d6ti70.webp)
Level C1HistoricalThe Complete Works in Philosophy, Politics and Morals of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Vol. 1 [of 3]Delve into the collected letters, essays, and memoirs revealing the philosophical, political, and moral insights of a pivotal figure in American history.
Level C1AdventureThe Companions of JehuAmid the turbulent years of 1791 to 1793, a daring group navigates political upheaval, secret missions, and shifting loyalties in revolutionary France.
Level C1HistoricalThe Common ReaderDelve into the world of the common reader, who shapes literary judgment through instinct and personal insight rather than scholarly critique.
Level C1HistoricalThe Commentaries of CæsarFollow Julius Caesar through his firsthand accounts of the Gallic Wars and the pivotal civil war against Pompey, revealing the origins of modern European history and the rise of im…
Level C1AdventureThe Coming of the KingCaught between royal betrayal and Puritan rule, a young man strives to reclaim his family’s honor amid England’s turbulent civil war.
Level C1Science FictionThe Coming Conquest of EnglandAs tensions rise among global powers, three mighty nations—Germany, France, and Russia—conspire to challenge England’s centuries-old dominion.
Level C1HistoricalThe Colonel's DreamA determined man returns to the South with hopes of revitalizing his hometown amid economic hardship and social challenges.
Level C1HistoricalThe Colloquies of Edward Osborne, Citizen and Clothworker of LondonA country boy arrives in bustling London, captivated by the chaotic life on London Bridge and seeking his fortune as an apprentice in the cloth trade.
Level C1HistoricalThe Collected Writings of Dougal Graham, "Skellat" Bellman of Glasgow, Vol. 2 of 2In 18th-century Glasgow, Jockey and Maggy navigate family quarrels, social expectations, and the complexities of courtship amidst lively local characters and rustic humor.
Level C1HistoricalThe Collected Writings of Dougal Graham, "Skellat" Bellman of Glasgow, Vol. 1 of 2Explore the rare and vivid chap-books of Dougal Graham, Glasgow's bellman, capturing the customs, manners, and folk-lore of his time through carefully preserved writings and insigh…
Level C1HistoricalThe Collected Writing of Thomas De Quincey, Vol. IIExplore the intimate world of early 19th-century literature and philosophy through vivid autobiographical sketches, from Oxford’s academic life to encounters with literary giants l…
Level C1HistoricalThe Cock and AnchorIn early 18th-century Dublin, the grand yet antiquated inn known as the Cock and Anchor stands as a silent witness to the city's shifting streets and stories.
Level C1MysteryThe Closed Book: Concerning the Secret of the BorgiasIn the sun-drenched streets of Florence, a passionate antiquary uncovers a mysterious medieval manuscript linked to a secret past.
Level C1RomanceThe Cloister and the HearthIn 15th-century Holland, a devoted couple navigates the joys and hardships of raising nine children amid a turbulent world ruled by cunning monarchs.
Level C1HistoricalThe Clansman: An Historical Romance of the Ku Klux KlanIn the turbulent aftermath of the Civil War, a secret society rises to challenge Reconstruction and reshape the South’s future, weaving historical drama with a tale of fierce loyal…