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 C1RomanceLeila or, the Siege of Granada, Book IV.In a besieged castle near Granada, Leila faces a heart-wrenching conflict between loyalty and love as Moorish forces, led by a fierce and seemingly magical warrior, challenge the C…
Level C1RomanceLeila or, the Siege of Granada, Book III.In a kingdom torn by faith and forbidden love, a gentle Jewish maiden faces the harsh scrutiny of the Inquisition and the protective mercy of a compassionate queen, caught between…
Level C1HistoricalLeila or, the Siege of Granada, Book II.Amid the glittering tents of the Spanish king's camp, a tense siege unfolds as political intrigue and military strategy intertwine, threatening to topple Granada from within while…
Level C1RomanceLeila or, the Siege of Granada, Book I.Amidst the 1491 siege of Granada, a mysterious enchanter and noble Moorish prince navigate a city on the brink of conquest, where ancient magic and fierce loyalty intertwine in a d…
Level C1HistoricalLeigh Hunt's Relations with Byron, Shelley and KeatsExplore the intertwined lives of Leigh Hunt, Byron, Shelley, and Keats amid the turbulent political and social upheavals of early 19th-century England, revealing how revolution, re…
Level C1HistoricalLegends of the conquest of SpainAmidst the tumult of invasions and shifting empires, Spain emerges as a land where history and legend intertwine, revealing a saga of conquest, valiant heroes, and the clash of cul…
Level C1HistoricalLegends of the Saxon SaintsDive into the stirring era when Anglo-Saxon kingdoms embraced Christianity, witnessing saintly rulers, grand cathedrals rising from ancient temples, and the birth of missions that…
Level C1HistoricalLegends of the Middle Ages: Narrated with Special Reference to Literature and ArtDive into the vivid world of medieval legends, where epic tales of kings, warriors, and mythical creatures reveal the customs and beliefs of a bygone era through poetic and artisti…
Level C1AdventureLegends of the Black Watch; or, Forty-second HighlandersAmid the rugged Highlands, elite companies of the Black Watch—gentlemen-soldiers of noble descent—stand as fierce guardians against rebellion and invasion.
Level C1HistoricalLegends of LancashireStep into Lancashire’s turbulent past, where castles, battles, and witches once shaped the land.
Level C1HistoricalLegends of Florence: Collected from the People, First SeriesExplore the rich tapestry of Florence through its captivating local legends tied to famous landmarks, ancient towers, and secret byways, revealing a world of folklore, witchcraft,…
Level C1HistoricalLegends of CharlemagneEnter a world of chivalry and legend as noble knights and heroic deeds come alive, weaving tales of honor and adventure from the age of Charlemagne.
Level C1AdventureLegendary Tales of the Highlands (Volume 3 of 3): A sequel to Highland RamblesIn 18th-century Nairnshire, a steadfast Englishwoman and her Highland farmer husband navigate loyalty and conflict amid the Jacobite uprising, where allegiances divide friends and…
Level C1HistoricalLegendary & romantic tales of Indian historyAmidst the rise and fall of empires, witness the fierce battles and relentless conquests that shaped medieval India under Mahomedan rule, where justice and tyranny collide, and war…
Level C1HistoricalLegend of Moulin HuetIn Cromwell’s England, a bitter miller’s feud erupts in the Channel Islands when his daughter falls for a Royalist soldier, igniting deadly rivalries and dark secrets beneath the c…
Level C1HistoricalLectures on the English Poets; Delivered at the Surrey InstitutionExplore the vivid world of English poetry as it unfolds from Chaucer to the living poets, revealing how imagination and passion shape our deepest human experiences through verse.
Level C1HistoricalLectures on Russian Literature: Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenef, TolstoyExplore the soul's journey through Russian literature as it unfolds from joyous youth to profound spiritual striving, guided by the works of Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenef, and Tolstoy,…
Level C1HistoricalLectures on English poetsExplore a series of insightful lectures revealing the essence and impact of English poets through vivid imagery, thoughtful criticism, and poetic prose, delivered by a scholar-poet…
Level C1HistoricalLectures on Dramatic Art and LiteratureExplore the evolution of dramatic art from ancient Greek tragedies to Shakespearean masterpieces, uncovering the spirit of true criticism, theatrical effects, and the cultural forc…
Level C1HistoricalLectures and EssaysExplore the rise of Rome through a detailed examination of its geography, people, and enduring power—uncovering what truly launched and sustained one of history's greatest empires…
Level C1HistoricalLectures Delivered in America in 1874Explore the reverence for history and the spirit of youthful independence as a visitor reflects on the enduring legacy of ancient civilizations and the bright promise of a young Am…
Level C1AdventureLeatherface: A Tale of Old FlandersIn the tense darkness before dawn, a daring plot unfolds as six hundred silent arquebusiers prepare to strike the rebellious Prince of Orange's camp, where only a mysterious figure…
Level C1HistoricalLeah Mordecai: A NovelIn a rainy day at a fashionable girls’ school, Leah Mordecai, a young Jewish girl often feeling like an outcast, navigates friendships and social boundaries while awaiting a ride h…
Level C1HistoricalLe chevalier de Maison-RougeIn the turbulent aftermath of the French king's execution, a daring attempt to rescue the imprisoned Marie Antoinette unfolds amid the horrors of the Reign of Terror, revealing a t…
Level C1FantasyLe Morte d'Arthur: Volume 2In a world of chivalry and fierce battles, Sir Tristram faces mysterious knights, tests his honor, and confronts foes both known and unknown.
Level C1FantasyLe Morte d'Arthur: Volume 1Enter a world of chivalry and magic where King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table embark on quests of honor, love, and destiny, weaving a timeless tapestry of medieval adven…
Level C1RomanceLe Morte Darthur: Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur and his Noble: Knights of the Round TableJourney into the epic saga of chivalry, where noble knights clash, love and loyalty intertwine, and the fate of King Arthur’s realm unfolds through vivid tales of honor, passion, a…
Level C1HistoricalLazarreIn the shadowed naves of St.
Level C1HistoricalLays of the Scottish Cavaliers and Other PoemsAmid the devastating defeat at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, Scottish nobles and commoners alike face harrowing loss and unyielding valor.
Level C1HistoricalLays of Ancient RomeDive into the legendary tales and myths surrounding the founding and early history of Rome, where gods mingle with mortals, heroes defend the city, and ancient battles shape the de…
Level C1RomanceLayamon's BrutAmid fierce battles and shifting loyalties, a noble king rises to unite Britain, only to face betrayal and the challenge of securing his young heirs' future in a land rife with con…
Level C1HistoricalLay Down Your Arms: The Autobiography of Martha von TillingAmid the looming shadows of war in Europe, a vivid narrative reveals the devastating impact of conscription and conflict on families and societies, urging a powerful plea for peace…![Cover of Laxdæla Saga by Muriel A. C. [Translator] Press](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da70d99bccoc73eloslg.webp)
Level C1HistoricalLaxdæla SagaIn a time of rising tyranny under King Harald, chieftain Ketill Flatnose and his kin face a fateful choice: flee their homeland or face destruction.
Level C1RomanceLawrence ClaveringA haunting portrait captures a young man’s torment, hinting at a life marked by passion, exile, and painful secrets.
Level C1HistoricalLaurence Sterne in Germany: A Contribution to the Study of the Literary Relations of: England and Germany in the Eighteenth CenturyExplore the vibrant literary exchange between England and Germany in the eighteenth century, tracing Laurence Sterne’s influence and the cultural currents that shaped the German re…
Level C1HistoricalLaura Secord, the heroine of 1812: A Drama; and Other PoemsAmid the turmoil of the War of 1812, a brave woman undertakes a perilous journey to warn of an impending attack, risking everything to protect her homeland and secure the future of…
Level C1HistoricalLaura Everingham; or, The Highlanders of Glen OraAmid the wild, rugged Highlands of Glen Ora, two foster brothers watch wary English visitors as tensions simmer beneath the ancient landscape, hinting at fierce conflicts and dark…
Level C1HistoricalLatin LiteratureExplore the rise of Latin literature as Rome transitions from war to peace, blending Greek influences with emerging native voices.
Level C1HistoricalLater Queens of the French StageBorn into privilege and groomed by celebrated masters, a young prodigy navigates the glittering yet capricious world of 18th-century French high society, where music, patronage, an…
Level C1AdventureLast of the Incas: A Romance of the PampasIn the desolate, wild plains of Patagonia, a lone horseman with a fierce gaze navigates treacherous landscapes and mysterious paths, where survival depends on cunning, courage, and…
Level C1HistoricalLandmarks in Russian literatureExplore the rich world of Russian literature through insightful essays that delve into the works of Tolstoy, Turgenev, Chekhov, and Gogol, blending admiration with deep understandi…
Level C1HistoricalLandmarks in French LiteratureDiscover the origins of French literature through epic medieval poems of chivalry, romance, and adventure, where the clash of cultures and ideals shapes a language of simplicity, u…
Level C1HistoricalLafitte, a play in prologue and four actsIn a tense 1814 Spain, political intrigue and forbidden love collide as Mariana wrestles with family loyalty, a mysterious inheritance, and the shadow of war, while a daring plan a…
Level C1HistoricalLady Sybil's Choice: A Tale of the CrusadesAmid the turbulence of the Crusades, Lady Sybil navigates family rivalries and noble ideals, torn between duty, love, and the harsh realities of war.
Level C1HistoricalLady Rosamond's bookIn 1529, Lady Rosamond begins chronicling her life within a noble family steeped in mysterious legends and rare beauty.
Level C1RomanceLady Rosamond's Secret: A Romance of FrederictonIn 1824 Fredericton, amid stunning autumn sunsets and blossoming gardens, a young woman of rare beauty and talent shares a tender moment with her distinguished father, hinting at s…
Level C1HistoricalLady Lucy's secretYoung Lady Lucy, heir to a grand estate, struggles under her strict aunt’s harsh care and dreams of a freer, happier life beyond her gilded cage.
Level C1HistoricalLady Inger of Ostrat: Henrik Ibsen's Prose Dramas Vol IIIIn 1528 Norway, Lady Inger of Ostrat navigates a stormy political landscape as whispers of betrayal and restless spirits haunt her manor, challenging her strength in a land where o…