Historical
Read Historical Classics in English
3,675 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.
- 3,675
- books
Level C1AdventureRung Ho! A NovelIn a restless colonial city simmering with tension, a determined young woman rides alone through a hostile crowd, shadowed by a mysterious protector with a dangerous past.
Level C1HistoricalRule of the Monk; Or, Rome in the Nineteenth CenturyIn 19th-century Rome, amidst conspiracies, exile, and rebellion, a fierce struggle unfolds against the oppressive Papal rule.
Level C1AdventureRudyard KiplingDive into an exploration of a writer who captures the heroic life of engineers, soldiers, and adventurers with literary craft and vivid realism, revealing the art behind tales of e…
Level C1HistoricalRoyal HighnessIn a somber capital city, a young lieutenant defies rigid military protocol by commanding unexpected respect from a decorated general, revealing the complex burdens of royal duty c…
Level C1RomanceRowena & Harold: A Romance in Rhyme of an Olden Time, of Hastyngs and NormanhurstIn a land of fierce feuds and forbidden love, a proud maiden defies her Norman father's will to follow her heart for a noble Saxon knight.
Level C1HistoricalRousseau (Volume 1 and 2)Follow the turbulent life and revolutionary ideas of Rousseau, whose writings on society, education, and government challenge the conventions of his time and ignite political and i…
Level C1HistoricalRoundabout to Boston (from Literary Friends and Acquaintance)A struggling writer in Venice during the American Civil War navigates literary rejection while forging connections with prominent Boston intellectuals and historians, capturing the…
Level C1HistoricalRose Mather: A taleAs the nation plunges into civil war, a small village unites under the Stars and Stripes, where families face heart-wrenching choices between duty and love.
Level C1HistoricalRose D'Albret; or, Troublous Times.In a turbulent era where chivalry masks harsh realities, a young heiress struggles against the ruthless feudal system that binds her fate—and marriage—to the will of guardians and…
Level C1HistoricalRosamund, Queen of the Lombards: A TragedyIn the summer heat of 573 Verona, the Lombard king Albovine wrestles with doubts of love and loyalty as his queen, Rosamund, navigates court intrigues and forbidden desires, settin…
Level C1HistoricalRookwoodIn a world of intrigue and romance, daring exploits unfold against the backdrop of historic England, where secrets and legends intertwine.
Level C1AdventureRonald Morton; or, the Fire Ships: A Story of the Last Naval WarA Spanish man-of-war navigates the treacherous northern seas near Shetland, where ancestral ties and historic shipwrecks stir intrigue.
Level C1HistoricalRomolaIn the vibrant heart of Renaissance Florence, witness a city alive with ambition, art, and the timeless struggles of its people as a returning spirit observes a world both familiar…
Level C1HistoricalRomances of the old town of EdinburghIn the shadowed alleys of old Edinburgh, a royalist love triangle unfolds amid political turmoil and secret gardens.![Cover of Romances of Old Japan: Rendered into English from Japanese Sources by Yei Theodora [Translator] Ozaki](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dabm21g9638s73a2uavg.webp)
Level C1HistoricalRomances of Old Japan: Rendered into English from Japanese SourcesDive into ancient Japan's world of honor and vengeance, where samurai loyalty clashes with deadly rivalry, and spirits of the past stir in haunting tales of love, betrayal, and the…
Level C1HistoricalRomance: Two LecturesExplore the rich tapestry of English literature and history from 1783 to 1832, as the lectures dissect the Romantic Revival and challenge traditional labels, revealing the complex…
Level C1HistoricalRoger the ranger: A story of border life among the IndiansA young hunter defies his family’s wishes to embrace a life among the Native Americans, igniting old rivalries and a haunting prophecy that threatens to tear the land apart.
Level C1AdventureRoger Willoughby: A Story of the Times of BenbowA young gentleman obsessed with navigation dreams of sailing to distant, mysterious lands even as friends warn of fanciful tales and looming dangers.
Level C1HistoricalRoger Kyffin's WardAmid the 1797 London panic, merchants, nobles, and commoners swarm the Bank of England and Royal Exchange, gripped by rumors of rebellion, mutiny, and financial collapse.
Level C1HistoricalRodney StoneStep back to early 19th-century England through the eyes of Rodney Stone, a young man connected to naval heroes and London’s boxing rings, as he navigates a world of historic battl…
Level C1HistoricalRobin Tremayne: A Story of the Marian PersecutionIn a turbulent era shadowed by persecution, young Robin Tremayne navigates the trials of faith and family amid England’s shifting religious landscape.
Level C1HistoricalRobin LinnetTwo Cambridge friends, Damon and Pythias, navigate youthful camaraderie and philosophy by candlelight, their bond deepening amid laughter and late-night debates.
Level C1AdventureRobin HoodIn medieval Locksley, young Robin hones his archery skills under his father's watchful eye while receiving a mysterious invitation to a grand fair at Nottingham—an event that promi…
Level C1HistoricalRobespierreIn the shadowed Hôtel de Pontivy, a determined councillor races against time to find a crucial document before a secretive parliamentary debate, while his daughter Clarisse brings…
Level C1HistoricalRobert Helmont: Diary of a Recluse, 1870-1871Amid the turmoil of the Franco-Prussian War, a bedridden man chronicles his isolated days in a countryside studio, capturing the tension, fear, and fleeting beauty of a world on th…
Level C1HistoricalRobert Annys: Poor Priest. A Tale of the Great UprisingIn 1379 England, a humble priest defies the powerful Church by preaching the Gospel directly to the common people, sparking a quiet revolution of faith and justice amid the looming…
Level C1AdventureRob of the Bowl: A Legend of St. Inigoe's. Vol. 1 (of 2)In the fading ruins of Maryland’s first capital, a tale unfolds of religious strife, forgotten histories, and the resilient spirit of a fledgling colony struggling to preserve its…
Level C1AdventureRob Roy — CompleteAmid the wild Scottish Highlands, a daring outlaw named Rob Roy defies authority with cunning and courage, stirring legend and conflict near the bustling city of Glasgow.
Level C1AdventureRob Nixon, the Old White Trader: A Tale of Central British North AmericaIn the vast, untamed prairies of North America, a skilled old hunter leads a fierce buffalo chase amidst the silence and endless horizon.
Level C1FantasyRip Van WinkleIn a quiet village beneath the magical Kaatskill mountains, Rip Van Winkle, a kind but hen-pecked man, embarks on an extraordinary adventure that blurs the line between reality and…
Level C1HistoricalRingan Gilhaize, or, The CovenantersAmidst Scotland's turbulent Covenanter era, a young man navigates faith, loyalty, and rebellion, caught between fierce convictions and the harsh realities of a divided land.
Level C1HistoricalRilla of InglesideOn a warm afternoon at Ingleside, family life unfolds with laughter, charming gossip, and the curious antics of a cat with a mysterious double nature, hinting at deeper changes loo…
Level C1HistoricalRig Veda Americanus: Sacred Songs of the Ancient Mexicans, With a Gloss in NahuatlExplore the ancient sacred hymns of the Mexicans, preserved in intricate manuscripts and shrouded in mystical language, offering a rare glimpse into their archaic religion, mytholo…
Level C1RomanceRidgeway: An Historical Romance of the Fenian Invasion of CanadaAmid centuries of English oppression, Irish patriots ignite a fierce resistance fueled by deep-rooted pride and a yearning for freedom.
Level C1HistoricalRichelieu: A Tale of France, v. 3/3Amid political intrigue and peril, the Count de Blenau faces a harrowing dilemma that threatens his honor and life as Cardinal Richelieu arrives unexpectedly to seize control.
Level C1HistoricalRichelieu: A Tale of France, v. 2/3Amidst the treacherous intrigues of Cardinal Richelieu’s France, Claude de Blenau must navigate danger and deceit to protect his love, Pauline de Beaumont, as he confronts the ruth…
Level C1HistoricalRichelieu: A Tale of France, v. 1/3Amidst the turbulent reign of Louis XIII, a young Bishop named Richelieu navigates court intrigues, shifting alliances, and deadly factions to rise from obscurity to power.
Level C1HistoricalRichard Lepsius, a biographyExplore the life of a devoted Egyptologist who braves harsh conditions and isolation to unveil the ancient secrets of Nile temples and tombs, revealing mysteries hidden in centurie…
Level C1HistoricalRichard Judkins' Wooing: A Tale of Virginia in the RevolutionAmid the simmering tensions of Revolutionary Virginia, a cool and calculating gentleman encounters a stern Major bearing urgent news, weaving a tale of loyalty, duty, and the stirr…
Level C1AdventureRichard Galbraith, Mariner; Or, Life among the KaffirsOrphaned young and raised by fishermen, a spirited boy with the sea in his heart embarks on a journey from rugged Cornish shores to daring adventures among distant tribes, guided b…
Level C1HistoricalRichard Carvel — CompleteIn colonial Maryland, Lionel Carvel navigates loyalty, honor, and family legacy amid the fading grandeur of a once-glorious estate.
Level C1AdventureRhymes of the Survey and FrontierVenture into the solitary, perilous world of pioneers who carve civilization from the wilderness, facing relentless hardships and forging a nation's future through courage and sacr…
Level C1RomanceRezanovIn 1806 California, a Russian diplomat arrives to secure aid for a struggling outpost, only to find unexpected passion with the daughter of a Spanish commandante.
Level C1HistoricalRescuing the Czar: Two authentic diaries arranged and translatedAmid swirling rumors and official denials, secret diaries unveil a daring attempt to rescue the Russian Czar and his family from a mysterious fate.
Level C1HistoricalRes Judicatæ: Papers and EssaysDive into a collection of insightful essays that explore the lives and works of literary figures like Samuel Richardson, revealing the unexpected complexities behind their public r…
Level C1HistoricalRepresentative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: Paul Kauvar; or, AnarchyAmid the turmoil of the Reign of Terror, a bold exploration of mob psychology and anarchy unfolds on a grand theatrical stage, blending passionate emotions with sweeping scenes and…
Level C1HistoricalRepresentative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: Love in '76: An Incident of the RevolutionAmid the American Revolution, a spirited comedietta unfolds with fresh wit and social charm, avoiding patriotic excess while capturing lively characters and theatrical flair.
Level C1HistoricalRepresentative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: Francesca da RiminiIn a world where poetry and diplomacy intertwine, explore the refined life of a young Princeton scholar whose passion for literature and the theater shapes his journey through soci…