Historical
Read Historical Classics in English
3,636 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.
- 3,636
- books
Level C1HistoricalThe sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald the Tyrant (Harald Haardraade)In a turbulent era of power struggles and loyalty, a hidden mother flees with her newborn son, the heir of a fallen king, seeking refuge while enemies close in.
Level C1HistoricalThe roving criticDive into a thoughtful exploration of literature that transcends traditional critique, asking not just if a work is good, true, or beautiful, but if it is truly alive—vivid and vit…
Level C1HistoricalThe retreat of the ten thousandA stranded Greek army of ten thousand must navigate hostile lands and relentless foes to return home, led by the unexpected commander Xenophon.
Level C1HistoricalThe religion of PlutarchExplore the rich philosophical and religious landscape of the early Christian era through Plutarch’s “Ethics,” where ancient faith meets moral inquiry and the complexities of Greco…
Level C1HistoricalThe regent's daughterIn 1719 France, the regent confronts his daughter, an abbess whose convent hides scandalous indulgences beneath its austere facade, sparking political intrigue and moral conflict w…
Level C1HistoricalThe red laugh: fragments of a discovered manuscriptAmid the relentless heat and ceaseless march of war, a soldier confronts the creeping madness and horror that consume the battlefield, revealing the brutal anachronism of conflict…
Level C1HistoricalThe red cockadeAmid the fading grandeur of a French château, a young vicomte confronts changing times, tangled loyalties, and the fierce stirrings of revolution as he navigates family, love, and…
Level C1RomanceThe raid of the guerilla: 1911In a secluded mountain cove threatened by a fierce guerilla raid, young Ethelinda risks everything to guide a Union detachment to safety through a secret cave, stirring danger and…
Level C1HistoricalThe raid of the guerilla, and other storiesIn a secluded Tennessee cove during the Civil War, a young woman risks everything by aiding a Union guerilla raid, sparking fear and suspicion among her fragile, war-worn community…
Level C1HistoricalThe quenchless lightAmid the vibrant backdrop of ancient Rome and its sprawling empire, follow the untold struggles and heroic lives of the early Disciples as they spread a faith that transcends histo…
Level C1HistoricalThe queen's necklaceIn 1784 France, the aging Marshal de Richelieu prepares a noble dinner while managing secrets and royal disguises, as the arrival of a mysterious guest challenges the delicate bala…
Level C1RomanceThe pot of basilIn sultry 18th-century Colorno, a young Archduke travels incognito, observing a world where romance, ambition, and intrigue entwine beneath the fading glories of a ducal court.
Level C1HistoricalThe open seaJourney through pivotal moments in history, from ancient Rome to the American Civil War, as powerful figures grapple with revolution, fate, and the weight of leadership, culminatin…
Level C1HistoricalThe old English dramatistsExplore the rich world of early English drama through insightful lectures that reveal the artistry and cultural significance of the old English dramatists, blending literary critic…
Level C1AdventureThe odyssey of a torpedoed trampA French cargo ship carrying cotton faces mechanical failure and the sudden outbreak of war as it navigates dangerous waters, forced to decide between uncertainty and loyalty.
Level C1HistoricalThe mediaeval stage, volume 1 (of 2)Explore the origins of English theatre through the Middle Ages, tracing its evolution from wandering minstrels to the religious miracle-plays that paved the way for Shakespeare’s s…![Cover of The man in grey: Being episodes of the Chovan [i.e. Chouan] conspiracies in Normandy during the First Empire. by Emmuska Orczy](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafd3mla8p2c739itev0.webp)
Level C1MysteryThe man in grey: Being episodes of the Chovan [i.e. Chouan] conspiracies in Normandy during the First Empire.Amid the shadowy intrigues of Napoleonic France, a mysterious figure known only as the Man in Grey hunts down the deadly Chouan rebels terrorizing Normandy.
Level C1AdventureThe man in blackAmid the bustling horse fair at Fécamp, a crafty man in black, his boy, and an ape captivate crowds with daring tightrope acts and cunning schemes, weaving intrigue and danger bene…
Level C1AdventureThe making of a manTwo brothers from the rugged Orkney Islands face limited prospects and dream of a new life in Canada’s untamed West.
Level C1AdventureThe lucky little stiffAmid the mud and chaos of 1917 France, three mismatched American aviators navigate military discipline, mistaken identities, and daring escapades behind enemy lines.
Level C1HistoricalThe loyalistsAmidst a nation on the brink of turmoil, explore the steadfast loyalty and virtues that sustain England through trials and upheaval, revealing the moral strength and sacrifices beh…
Level C1AdventureThe lost hunter: A tale of early timesIn a rugged land free from lords and slaves, bold thoughts and daring hands shape survival and friendship.
Level C1AdventureThe lively adventures of Gavin HamiltonAmid the frozen desolation of war-torn Silesia, a dashing French captain and a lone resilient soldier face starvation and relentless enemies.
Level C1HistoricalThe little capAmid the 1552 siege of Metz, a disciplined and honorable soldier wrestles with poverty and the harsh realities of war, striving to protect his family and uphold his integrity in a…
Level C1HistoricalThe literature of kissingExplore the rich history and cultural significance of kissing, from ancient biblical tales to heartfelt traditions across generations.
Level C1AdventureThe life of a celebrated buccaneerA daring buccaneer rules a rugged island fortress, turning treacherous coves into bustling ports teeming with ships, plunder, and peril.
Level C1AdventureThe last buccaneerIn 1708 Bristol, two friends encounter a mysterious seafarer with a curious treasure, drawing them into a world of intrigue and adventure where the line between merchant and pirate…
Level C1RomanceThe king's ringAmidst the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War, a young surgeon abandons his ecclesiastical studies to join the battlefield, navigating loyalty, love, and survival in a world torn by…
Level C1HistoricalThe just stewardIn the vibrant, multicultural hub of ancient Alexandria during the vintage season, diverse peoples and traders converge amid the scars of past sieges.
Level C1HistoricalThe house of the wizardAmid the grandeur and hospitality of Mohun’s Ottery, a Devon fortress home to the noble Carew family during Henry VIII’s reign, tensions rise with political intrigue and personal t…
Level C1HistoricalThe house of five gablesAn ancestral mansion with five gables hides a storied past of wealth, wild excess, and looming ruin as its current master faces the collapse of his fortune and the haunting legacy…
Level C1AdventureThe hounds of GodA young nobleman imprisoned amid deadly court intrigues must navigate betrayal and ambition while grappling with the tragic downfall of a close friend entangled with Queen Elizabet…
Level C1HistoricalThe history of the harlequinade, volume 2 (of 2)Dive into the mischievous world of ancient comedy where cunning slaves, secret crimes, and duped old men collide in a house haunted by a dark past and lively intrigues, blending la…
Level C1HistoricalThe history of the harlequinade, volume 1 (of 2)Trace the vibrant evolution of comic theatre from ancient Greece’s lively mimes and acrobats to Rome’s spirited Atellan comedies, revealing the origins of the iconic Harlequin char…
Level C1HistoricalThe history of a tame robinA young robin narrates his early life, revealing a world where birds cautiously observe their human benefactors and experience unexpected kindness.
Level C1HistoricalThe great masters of Russian literature in the nineteenth centuryDive into the vivid world of 19th-century Russian literature, where a rebellious young writer breaks free from imitation to craft haunting tales inspired by folklore and legend, ca…
Level C1HistoricalThe great inquiryIn a parliamentary inquiry marked by sharp wit and fierce debates, industrialists and farmers clash over Britain's economic future, exposing the tensions beneath political politene…
Level C1RomanceThe great amuletA secret wedding in a quiet Swiss town binds two souls on the brink of a journey to far-off India, where love faces the trials of distance, culture, and duty.
Level C1HistoricalThe golden verses of PythagorasExplore the timeless wisdom of ancient Pythagorean teachings through poetic translations that reveal profound insights into destiny, providence, and the human soul’s journey.
Level C1AdventureThe frontiersmenIn the untamed wilderness of 1783 Western New York, frontier settlers and Native American tribes clash amid the turmoil of the Revolutionary War, where alliances shift and survival…
Level C1HistoricalThe friar of WittenbergAmid the opulent intrigue of the Vatican, a fiery friar from Wittenberg challenges the Church’s authority with a bold new faith, sparking tension among cardinals and nobles.
Level C1HistoricalThe forty-five guardsmenIn turbulent 1585 Paris, as crowds gather under closed gates and whispers of rebellion stir, a mysterious stranger observes the tense anticipation of an execution and the arrival o…
Level C1HistoricalThe foreign debt of English literatureExplore the rich tapestry of English literature shaped by diverse foreign influences—from Greek and Roman classics to Italian and French traditions—and discover how these cultural…
Level C1HistoricalThe flight of the heronIn the rugged Scottish Highlands of 1745, a young Highlander watches intently by a shimmering loch, caught between loyalty and secret fears.
Level C1HistoricalThe flame-gatherersIn 13th-century Mandu, a powerful Rajah returns victorious from battle, greeted by a diverse and loyal populace amid the plateau’s ancient palaces and fertile fields.
Level C1HistoricalThe fifth of NovemberIn snowy London, a shadowy tavern known as the Leopard hides a world of danger and intrigue amid ruffians and rogues.
Level C1HistoricalThe epistle of Othea to Hector; or, The boke of knyghthodeIn a fragile 15th-century manuscript, a goddess imparts timeless lessons on knighthood and virtue to a legendary warrior, blending history, wisdom, and courtly life through the voi…
Level C1RomanceThe emperor's candlesticksAmid Vienna’s dazzling Shrove Tuesday carnival, a masked Tsarevitch pursues a mysterious, playful odalisque through the opera’s enchanted halls, where hidden identities and daring…