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.
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Level C1HistoricalProper pride : A novel. Volume 2 (of 3)Amid the breathtaking beauty of the Neilgherry Hills, Sir Reginald embarks on a transformative journey that intertwines nature’s splendor with intriguing local legends and the comp…
Level C1RomanceProper prideIn sunlit Malta, two British officers discuss the captivating Miss Saville, an orphaned heiress bound by guardianship and a looming marriage to a distant soldier.
Level C1HistoricalProbationIn the heart of a bustling Lancashire cotton factory, skilled workers navigate the relentless rhythm of looms and the sharp scrutiny of overseers, revealing a world where human pre…
Level C1HistoricalPrivy Seal: His Last VentureIn turbulent Renaissance Paris, a learned English magister navigates political intrigue and personal desires while Latinizing secret letters between diplomats.
Level C1HistoricalPrivate Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 2 (of 2)Step into the intimate world of 18th-century politics and society through the candid private letters of a newly elected parliamentarian navigating public duties, personal connectio…
Level C1HistoricalPrivate Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2)Delve into the intimate world of Edward Gibbon through a collection of his private letters, revealing the personal relationships, historical reflections, and literary legacy of one…
Level C1HistoricalPrisoners of Hope: A Tale of Colonial VirginiaIn 1663 colonial Virginia, a spirited young woman eagerly awaits a sloop carrying fine fashions and letters from England, embodying the clash of Old World elegance and New World wi…
Level C1HistoricalPrisoners of ConscienceIn the rugged Shetland Islands, Liot Borson, a man torn between pagan heritage and Christian faith, grapples with an ancient family curse as he recounts the tragic saga of his doom…
Level C1AdventurePrisoners of Chance: The Story of What Befell Geoffrey Benteen, Borderman, through His Love for a Lady of FranceCaught between fierce Native tribes and colonial powers, Geoffrey Benteen’s adventurous journey reveals the tragic fate of a mysterious vanished people and a forbidden love that co…
Level C1HistoricalPrinciple in Art, Etc.Explore a rigorous defense of true artistic criticism, arguing that genuine judgment, grounded in principle rather than mere feeling, shapes and elevates art by cultivating a disce…
Level C1HistoricalPrince and HereticIn a world where alchemy and astrology shape destinies, a weary court alchemist struggles to unlock the philosopher's stone while the Protestant Elector of Saxony seeks cosmic guid…
Level C1RomancePrince Zilah — CompleteIn a world where passion and power collide, a noble prince navigates the complexities of love and duty.
Level C1RomancePrince Rupert, the BuccaneerAmidst the Caribbean's ruthless buccaneers, Prince Rupert confronts the brutal fate of his loyal soldiers, now sold as mere cargo in a harsh new world where honor and survival coll…
Level C1HistoricalPrince Eugene and His TimesAmid court intrigues and fierce family rivalries, a young noblewoman defies arranged marriage to protect her heart, while powerful enemies and royal secrets threaten to unravel her…
Level C1HistoricalPreston Fight; or, The Insurrection of 1715Amid the turbulent Jacobite uprising of 1715, a young, loyal nobleman leads a desperate defense of Preston against betrayal and overwhelming odds.
Level C1HistoricalPrentice HughIn medieval Exeter, a courageous boy fends off a gang of bullies with the help of a loyal hound and the unexpected protection of a Franciscan friar, revealing a world of fierce loy…
Level C1HistoricalPrefaces to Terence's Comedies and Plautus's Comedies (1694)Explore the challenges and intentions behind translating Terence's and Plautus's comedies into English, revealing 17th-century theatrical rivalries, neoclassical drama theory, and…
Level C1HistoricalPre-Raphaelite and other PoetsExplore insightful lectures delivered to Japanese students that dissect the works of Rossetti, Swinburne, Browning, and other poets, revealing profound truths about modern poetry t…
Level C1HistoricalPowhatan; A Metrical Romance, in Seven CantosAn epic metrical romance unfolds the story of Powhatan, a formidable Native American chieftain who unites tribes into a powerful confederacy amid the arrival of English settlers.
Level C1HistoricalPost-Augustan Poetry From Seneca to JuvenalExplore the overlooked world of post-Augustan Roman poetry, revealing the merits and flaws of poets navigating the decline of classical ideals under imperial rule, from dramatic wo…
Level C1HistoricalPorziaIn Renaissance Naples, a wedding day sparks fierce clashes between faith, heresy, and passion as Rizzio, a free-thinking leader, defies religious dogma and family ties, igniting a…
Level C1HistoricalPortuguese literatureExplore the rich history and revival of Portuguese literature, from forgotten medieval lyrics to influential 19th-century works, revealing a vibrant tradition rediscovered and cele…
Level C1RomancePoppea of the Post-OfficeIn a small New England village gripped by the Civil War’s uncertainty, the postmaster anxiously awaits delayed mail that carries news from the front, weaving together community hop…
Level C1HistoricalPope, His Descent and Family Connections: Facts and ConjecturesDelve into the contested origins of a celebrated poet, as noble critics challenge his birth and he fiercely defends his heritage, revealing the complexities of social status and fa…
Level C1HistoricalPoor White: A NovelIn a bleak Missouri river town where poverty and despair reign, young Hugh McVey struggles to rise above his harsh upbringing and find purpose, guided by a stern yet caring station…
Level C1HistoricalPonteach; Or, The Savages of AmericaA soldier and frontiersman recounts his tumultuous experiences with Native American tribes during the French and Indian War, revealing alliances, betrayals, and the harsh realities…
Level C1HistoricalPolitics: A Treatise on GovernmentExplore the foundation of society as a legislator crafts a community aimed at the good life, blending ethics with governance.
Level C1HistoricalPoets of the South: A Series of Biographical and Critical Studies with Typical Poems, AnnotatedExplore the rich, often overlooked poetic heritage of the American South through vivid biographical and critical portraits of its leading poets.
Level C1HistoricalPoetry of the Anti-Jacobin: Comprising the Celebrated Political and Satirical Poems, of the Rt. Hons. G. Canning, John Hookham Frere, W. Pitt, the Marquis Wellesley, G. Ellis, W. Gifford, the Earl of Carlisle, and Others.Sharp political and satirical poems from the turbulent era of 1797-98 expose the fierce conflicts between Britain and revolutionary France, capturing the wit and turmoil of a natio…
Level C1HistoricalPoems: Patriotic, Religious, MiscellaneousExplore heartfelt verses that intertwine devotion, Southern pride, and reflection, revealing a soul torn between faith and allegiance during a tumultuous era.
Level C1HistoricalPoems of the Great War: Published on the Behalf of the Prince of Wales's National Relief FundPoignant and stirring poems rally a nation in the throes of war, capturing the courage, sacrifice, and resolve of England as it faces the great conflict.
Level C1HistoricalPoems of Henry Timrod; with MemoirExplore the heart and soul of the South through stirring poems born from the trials of war, patriotism, and the enduring spirit of a people.
Level C1HistoricalPoemsExplore the turbulent spirit of the 1860s through vivid poems reflecting on war, loss, and Southern life, penned by an editor deeply entwined with the era’s history and politics.
Level C1HistoricalPocahontas: A PoemAmid the vibrant life of a Native American village, a fearless princess named Matoax—better known as Pocahontas—rules the hearts and wilds of her land.
Level C1HistoricalPlaywrights on playmakingExplore the enduring laws and conventions of drama through insightful essays that reveal how playwrights craft stories shaped by their audiences, actors, and times, blending theory…
Level C1HistoricalPlays, Acting and Music: A Book Of TheoryExplore the intricate world of stagecraft, where the art of puppetry challenges traditional acting by blending precision and illusion, revealing new dimensions of theatrical expres…
Level C1HistoricalPlays and PuritansExplore the clash between art and Puritanism in a society wary of true creativity, where religious and cultural tensions challenge the very essence of artistic expression and its p…
Level C1RomancePlaying with Fire: A Story of the Soudan WarA young captain returns home from war to the familiar grounds of childhood, where a delicate dance of love and friendship with his cousin unfolds amidst the backdrop of summer’s wa…
Level C1HistoricalPlaying With FireIn the industrious, misty city of Glasgow, a revered minister of the Church of the Disciples navigates the rigid expectations of faith, family, and duty, revealing the hidden tensi…
Level C1HistoricalPlatform MonologuesExplore the power and beauty of great literature through a series of passionate monologues that delve into the essence of literary art, its sublime impact, and the pursuit of the e…
Level C1HistoricalPlain Tales from the HillsIn the remote hills of India, Lispeth, a beautiful Hill girl raised in Christian faith, discovers love unexpectedly when she nurses a wounded English traveler back to health.
Level C1HistoricalPlague and pestilence in literature and artExplore how ancient beliefs and artistic expressions reveal humanity’s struggle to understand and confront epidemic pestilence, blending magic, religion, and emerging science in a…
Level C1AdventurePirate Princes and Yankee Jacks: Setting forth David Forsyth's Adventures in America's Battles on Sea and Desert with the Buccaneer Princes of Barbary, with an Account of a Search under the Sands of the Sahara Desert for the Treasure-filled Tomb of Ancient KingsA young sailor navigates perilous battles against Barbary pirates and joins a daring desert expedition in search of ancient treasure, uncovering tales of bravery, loss, and the for…
Level C1HistoricalPiping hot! (Pot-bouille)In the heart of 19th-century Paris, a complex family saga unfolds, revealing the intricate ties of heredity and society’s influence on fate.
Level C1RomancePierre and LuceIn the shadow of war-torn Paris, a young soldier-to-be finds a fragile connection with a mysterious girl during a tense subway ride, where silence and shared fear ignite a quiet, p…
Level C1HistoricalPictures of Hellas: Five Tales of Ancient GreeceStep into the radiant world of ancient Greece, where five tales illuminate the lives and customs beneath a mild sky, revealing vivid portraits of ordinary people woven into the ric…
Level C1HistoricalPictures from English History: A Fireside AmusementChildren and their families gather by the fireside to transform history into an engaging game, sharing vivid tales of ancient battles and kings.
Level C1HistoricalPickwickian Manners and CustomsStep back into a vanished world where debtors' prisons, horse-drawn coaches, and raucous taverns shape a richly comic panorama of Victorian life.