Historical
Read Historical Classics in English
3,647 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.
- 3,647
- books
Level C1AdventureMarooned on AustraliaSurvivors of the Batavia shipwreck face mutiny, betrayal, and brutal storms as they struggle to survive on a remote Australian island, caught between treacherous seas and restless…
Level C1HistoricalMarmion: A Tale Of Flodden FieldIn the shadow of the Battle of Flodden, a poetic minstrel weaves a stirring tale of war, honor, and Scotland’s turbulent autumn, capturing the clash of swords and the spirit of a n…
Level C1AdventureMarmaduke Merry: A Tale of Naval Adventures in Bygone DaysA lively family bound by laughter and loyalty sets the stage for daring naval adventures, where youthful spirits and hearty tales lead to thrilling exploits beyond their quiet Leic…
Level C1HistoricalMark Twain: A Biography. Volume III, Part 1: 1900-1907After a financial crisis and a world of sympathy, a celebrated author returns to America to find himself hailed as a conquering hero and drawn into a whirlwind of public attention,…
Level C1HistoricalMark Twain: A Biography. Volume I, Part 2: 1866-1875Emerging from deep despair, a man channels his restless mind into a bold lecture tour about the Hawaiian Islands, conquering fear and gaining fame through humor and eloquence.
Level C1HistoricalMarius the Epicurean — Volume 2Amid the refined courts of ancient Rome, a young epicurean grapples with reconciling his intellectual ideals and the enduring pull of traditional morality, as eloquent Stoic teachi…
Level C1HistoricalMarius the Epicurean — Volume 1In ancient Rome, young Marius embraces the fading traditions of paganism, finding deep reverence and ritual in the old religion of hearth and nature.
Level C1HistoricalMarion Harland's Autobiography: The Story of a Long LifeExperience a firsthand account of the Old South’s rise and fall through the eyes of a woman whose memory spans from pre-Civil War days to the dawn of a restored Union, revealing in…
Level C1RomanceMarietta: A Maid of VeniceIn the secretive glass workshops of Murano, a fiery master keeps a watchful eye on his talented daughter Marietta and the mysterious Dalmatian servant Zorzi, whose growing skills a…
Level C1RomanceMarie; a story of Russian loveAmidst the vast Russian steppes, a young sergeant reflects on his unconventional upbringing and the loyal bonds that shape his life, setting the stage for a poignant tale of love a…
Level C1AdventureMarie: An Episode in the Life of the Late Allan QuatermainIn turbulent 1836 Southern Africa, as the Boers embark on the Great Trek into unknown lands, danger and betrayal lurk amid clashes with the Zulu kingdom.
Level C1HistoricalMarie Grubbe, a Lady of the Seventeenth CenturyIn 17th-century Denmark, Marie Grubbe’s scandalous life unfolds through forbidden loves and defiance of societal norms, revealing a woman who challenges the rigid constraints of he…
Level C1RomanceMarie Gourdon: A Romance of the Lower St. LawrenceIn 1745 Scotland, amidst fierce storms and family strife within a Norman castle, the legacy of displaced Scottish soldiers unfolds as they blend into the rugged landscapes and cult…
Level C1RomanceMarianson: From "Mackinac And Lake Stories", 1899Amid the tense backdrop of the 1812 British invasion, a young Canadian voyageur flees through the wilds of Mackinac Island, seeking refuge in a mysterious cave where he encounters…
Level C1HistoricalMarguerite de ValoisOn the eve of a royal wedding between bitter enemies from Catholic and Protestant factions, political intrigue and deadly secrets simmer beneath the lavish festivities at the Louvr…
Level C1RomanceMarguerite De Roberval: A Romance of the Days of Jacques CartierIn 1539 France, daring seaman Jacques Cartier longs to escape cramped streets and return to the New World where gold, diamonds, and adventure await, while his loyal companion warns…
Level C1HistoricalMargery (Gred): A Tale Of Old Nuremberg — CompleteAmidst the faded pages of a 15th-century manuscript, a German housewife named Margery Schopper begins to chronicle her life in old Nuremberg, revealing intimate memories, family so…
Level C1RomanceMargaret Tudor: A Romance of Old St. AugustineHeld captive in 1670 San Augustin, Margaret Tudor pens a desperate plea for freedom while navigating perilous seas, lost loved ones, and a blossoming love with a noble kinsman amid…
Level C1HistoricalMargaret Smith's Journal: Part 1 from Volume V of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierIn 1678 Massachusetts Bay, a young woman begins a heartfelt journal chronicling her arrival, the stark new land, and the complex society she encounters—from kind relatives to stern…
Level C1HistoricalMargaret Smith's Journal, and Tales and Sketches, Complete: Volume V of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierA young woman chronicles her journey from England to the challenging yet hopeful New England colony of 1678, revealing vivid portraits of early settlers and the harsh realities of…
Level C1RomanceMargaret Capel: A Novel, vol. 3 of 3In the quiet seclusion of Ashdale, Margaret Capel seeks solace from her sorrows, enduring unwanted attentions while finding healing in the wild beauty of the autumn shore.
Level C1HistoricalMargaret Capel: A Novel, vol. 1 of 3When seventeen-year-old Margaret Capel arrives under the guardianship of her distant relative, tensions simmer over her future and inheritance.
Level C1HistoricalManuel Pereira; Or, The Sovereign Rule of South CarolinaIn the tense waters off South Carolina, a shipwrecked sailor faces unjust imprisonment under harsh laws designed to uphold a fragile, oppressive social order.
Level C1HistoricalManners: A Novel, Vol 3In a stately Irish household marked by pride and parsimony, Miss Fitzcarril manages a strict estate while secretly indulging in forbidden fortune-telling.
Level C1AdventureManco, the Peruvian Chief: Or, An Englishman's Adventures in the Country of the IncasAn English family settles in the rugged Peruvian Andes, where a compassionate father aids oppressed indigenous villagers amid the shadows of the ancient Inca empire.
Level C1HistoricalMalaeska: The Indian Wife of the White HunterIn a remote clearing by the Hudson River, settlers and Native Americans live cautiously side by side amid the dense wilderness.
Level C1HistoricalMaitre CorneliusIn the shadowed cathedral of 1479 Tours, faith and passion intertwine as nobles and commoners alike seek solace and secret rendezvous beneath flickering candlelight.
Level C1HistoricalMain currents in American thoughtExplore the evolution of American ideas from Puritan New England through Jeffersonian agrarianism, tracing how European intellectual traditions intertwined with native aspirations…
Level C1HistoricalMain Street: (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")Step back through time on a mysterious Main Street, where ancient forests and indigenous rulers meet the dawn of a new civilization, revealing the layered history beneath a seeming…
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 6. Young GermanyPolitical idealism clashes with reactionary forces in post-Napoleonic Germany, where hopes for unification and freedom are dashed by conservative powers determined to restore old o…
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 5. The Romantic School in FranceExplore the vibrant literary and political upheavals in France from 1824 to 1828, where the rise of the bourgeoisie and the clash between tradition and modernity shape a generation…
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 4. Naturalism in EnglandExplore the rise of Naturalism in early 19th-century English literature as it challenges classical conventions, ignites patriotic spirit, and champions the voices of common people…
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 3. The Reaction in FranceExplore the clash between tradition and reason as France grapples with restoring authority after the Revolution, revealing how religion, politics, and society intertwine in a drama…
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 2. The Romantic School in GermanyDive into the intricate world of the German Romantic School, where literature intertwines with life’s deepest emotions and cultural currents.
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 1. The Emigrant LiteratureExplore the turbulent literary landscape of early nineteenth-century Europe, where revolutionary ideals clash with fading Enlightenment values, tracing the rise and fall of key mov…
Level C1RomanceMaid MarianIn a forest abbey, a wedding is violently interrupted when the bride’s noble lover is accused of treason and drawn into a desperate fight for love and honor.
Level C1RomanceMaid Margaret of GallowayBound to a harsh convent against her will, a spirited young noblewoman wrestles with the stifling life imposed upon her and dreams of reclaiming the freedom and love she was denied…
Level C1HistoricalMademoiselle FifiIn occupied France, a defiant Prussian major disrupts the uneasy calm of a country estate, stirring tensions that reveal the complex interplay of power, pride, and resistance durin…
Level C1HistoricalMadame MidasA battered boat drifts toward a wild, blood-red coastline where two men seek freedom amid the savage cliffs and crashing waves.
Level C1RomanceMadame Flirt: A Romance of 'The Beggar's Opera'In the gritty streets of St.
Level C1RomanceMadam ConstantiaAmid the turbulent backdrop of the American War of Independence, a British officer recounts his harrowing and unexpected experiences in the Carolinas, revealing the personal and po…
Level C1HistoricalMad BarbaraA young girl discovers her father’s mysterious murder in a quiet autumn garden, clutching a cryptic golden chain that may unlock dark secrets.
Level C1HistoricalMackinac and Lake StoriesAmidst the dawn assault on Mackinac Island in 1812, a young Canadian voyageur deserts his British captors and seeks refuge in a mysterious cave where a sleeping woman waits, igniti…
Level C1RomanceMacariaA young man shoulders the burden of supporting his ailing cousin and mother amid financial hardship, driven by unyielding ambition and love.
Level C1HistoricalLà-basIn a sharp debate on naturalism's limits and the soul's mysteries, a troubled thinker wrestles with art's purpose and the search for meaning beyond mere materialism, setting the st…
Level C1HistoricalLysbeth, a Tale of the DutchAmid the winter festivities of 16th-century Leyden, Lysbeth van Hout, a wealthy and admired young heiress, navigates the perils of a tyrannical era, where faith and freedom hang in…
Level C1HistoricalLuxury--Gluttony: Two of the Seven Cardinal SinsAmid the luxurious halls of the Élysée-Bourbon, young Count Frantz navigates the intrigues and temptations of Parisian high society, where bravery and innocence clash with the sedu…
Level C1AdventureLuck at the Diamond FieldsA tense journey to the Diamond Fields brings together a diverse, uneasy group of passengers, including a determined English governess facing hardship and a notorious local with a s…