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
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Level C1HistoricalEnglish Critical Essays: Nineteenth CenturyExplore the evolution of English literary criticism during the nineteenth century, tracing the shift from Neo-classicism to Romanticism through seminal essays and poetic theories t…
Level C1HistoricalEngland's AntiphonExplore the evolution of England’s religious poetry as it intertwines with the nation's history, revealing how heartfelt song and worship unite generations in a timeless chorus of…
Level C1HistoricalEnglandExplore how a small, water-soaked island with infertile soil rose from obscurity to dominate global trade and influence, becoming the heart of a civilization that reshaped the worl…
Level C1HistoricalEmpress Josephine: An Historical Sketch of the Days of NapoleonAmidst the sweeping tides of revolution and empire, a graceful woman’s charm and unwavering loyalty illuminate the turbulent life of the Empress Josephine, whose love and strength…
Level C1AdventureEmmanuel Appadocca; or, Blighted life, Volume 2 (of 2)A small cutter carries Agnes and other captives across a perilous ocean, battling relentless winds and waves as hope flickers with the fading sight of their only companion ship.
Level C1AdventureEmmanuel Appadocca; or, Blighted life, Volume 1 (of 2)Amid the lush, tranquil waters of the Gulf of Paria, a story unfolds of a sensitive man navigating the brutal realities of slavery on a Caribbean plantation, confronting the harsh…
Level C1HistoricalEminent Authors of the Nineteenth Century: Literary PortraitsExplore intimate literary portraits of nine influential 19th-century authors from diverse nations, revealing their unique minds and the modern spirit shaping their works through ps…
Level C1HistoricalEmily BrontëExplore the intense, passionate imagination that brings the wild moors and haunting characters to vivid life, offering a unique vision of nature and human emotion beyond ordinary e…
Level C1HistoricalEmerson and Other EssaysExplore the fierce struggle between individual liberty and societal tyranny as a provocative voice challenges the idealization of the masses, advocating instead for the cultivation…
Level C1RomanceElsie's Kith and KinNewlyweds Zoe and Ned embrace the joys and challenges of married life on a sprawling plantation, finding love, companionship, and unexpected visitors to brighten their quiet days t…
Level C1HistoricalElsie at ViamedeAmid the tranquil beauty of Viamede, a family gathers to recount the stirring tale of Andrew Jackson’s relentless defense of New Orleans during the War of 1812, revealing courage,…
Level C1HistoricalEllen WaltonIn post-Revolutionary Pittsburgh, Eliza Fleming’s trust in a charming suitor spirals into a web of deceit, shattered vows, and a dark quest for revenge—where love confronts betraya…
Level C1HistoricalEllen Terry and Her SistersStep into the captivating world of the theatre through the eyes of a young woman whose passion for the stage defies family disapproval and societal expectations, revealing the triu…
Level C1HistoricalEllen Duncan; And The Proctor's Daughter: The Works of William Carleton, Volume TwoIn a turbulent Clare county, Owen Duncan and his devoted wife Ellen struggle against poverty and injustice, clinging to hope and faith amidst threats to their humble home and posse…
Level C1RomanceElla Barnwell: A historical romance of border lifeAmid the untamed wilderness of early Kentucky, settlers carve out homes on the "dark and bloody ground," facing perilous frontier life and fierce conflicts.
Level C1HistoricalElkswatawaA vivid tale unfolds along the turbulent frontier, exploring the lives and struggles of Native American leaders striving to reclaim their heritage amid conflict and misunderstandin…
Level C1HistoricalElizabethan Drama and Its Mad Folk: The Harness Prize Essay for 1913Explore the portrayal of madness in Elizabethan and early Stuart drama, revealing how playwrights reflected and shaped contemporary views on mental illness through vivid, artful ch…
Level C1AdventureElissa; Or, The Doom of ZimbabweA diverse caravan journeys across harsh African landscapes to reach the mysterious ancient city of Zimboe, a Phœnician stronghold famed for its gold and surrounded by enigmatic rui…
Level C1HistoricalElinor Wyllys; Or, The Young Folk of Longbridge: A Tale. Volume 2After years apart, the young folk of Longbridge reunite, bringing together tales of love, travel, and new challenges across America, Mexico, and the West Indies.
Level C1HistoricalElinor Wyllys; Or, The Young Folk of Longbridge: A Tale. Volume 1Young Elinor Wyllys navigates the shifting fashions and social tides of Longbridge, offering a heartfelt glimpse into the joys and sorrows of youth in a changing world.
Level C1HistoricalElderflowersA seasoned doctor confronts the fragile beauty of life and grief within a stately home, seeking solace where medicine cannot reach.
Level C1HistoricalEl VerdugoUnder a moonlit Spanish sky, a young French officer stationed at the chateau de Menda grapples with suspicion and forbidden desire amid political unrest, as secret signals and hidd…
Level C1AdventureEl Dorado: An Adventure of the Scarlet PimpernelAmidst the turmoil of the French Revolution, a daring Englishman known as the Scarlet Pimpernel risks everything to rescue the innocent from the guillotine, defying a ruthless regi…
Level C1HistoricalEkkehard: A Tale of the Tenth Century. Vol. 2 (of 2)Amidst the aftermath of a brutal battle in the tenth century, monks and warriors grapple with loss, faith, and duty as they bury the fallen and face the uncertain peace that follow…
Level C1HistoricalEkkehard: A Tale of the Tenth Century. Vol. 1 (of 2)In the 10th century, a tale unfolds where history and poetry intertwine, revealing forgotten medieval splendor through the eyes of scholars and artists who bring ancient fragments…
Level C1HistoricalEirik the Red's SagaA warrior king's lineage unfolds through fierce battles, alliances, and voyages across Norway, Ireland, and Scotland, culminating in Eirik's exile and daring quest to explore unkno…
Level C1HistoricalEighteenth Century VignettesStep into early 18th-century London where wit, society, and intimate letters reveal the lives of Captain Steele and his wife, blending history with personal drama against the vibra…
Level C1HistoricalEgoists, A Book of Supermen: Stendhal, Baudelaire, Flaubert, Anatole France, Huysmans, Barrès, Nietzsche, Blake, Ibsen, Stirner, and Ernest HelloExplore the complex psyche and passionate life of Henry Beyle, known as Stendhal, whose sharp intellect and intense love affairs shaped his unique literary style and enduring influ…
Level C1HistoricalEgmontAmid the brewing revolt in the 16th-century Netherlands, Count Egmont, a celebrated general caught between loyalty and oppression, faces the harsh rule of the Spanish crown and the…
Level C1AdventureEdwy the Fair or the First Chronicle of Aescendune: A Tale of the Days of Saint DunstanIn a turbulent tenth-century England, the young King Edwy grapples with the powerful Church and its influential leaders, including the formidable monk Dunstan, as love and loyalty…
Level C1HistoricalEdward Fane's Rosebud (From "Twice Told Tales")An aging nurse reflects on her lost youth and a broken romance with Edward Fane, set against the harsh realities of class and mortality in colonial times.
Level C1HistoricalEdward Barnett, a Neglected Child of South Carolina, Who Rose to Be a Peer of Great Britain,—and the Stormy Life of His Grandfather, Captain Williams: or, The Earl's Victims: with an Account of the Terrible End of the Proud Earl De Montford, the Lamentable Fate of the Victim of His Passion, and the Shadow's PunishmentIn a grand English manor, a proud Earl battles hidden enemies and simmering family tensions, as an aged steward defies his wrath to protect a wronged man whose fate intertwines wit…
Level C1AdventureEdmond DantèsEdmond Dantès, the legendary Count of Monte-Cristo, embarks on a thrilling new journey amid a violent Mediterranean storm and the upheaval of the 1848 French Revolution.
Level C1HistoricalEdina: A NovelIn a bleak Cornish mining village, the lives of miners, a dedicated doctor, and his charming nephew intertwine amid the hardships and hidden tensions of a close-knit community.
Level C1MysteryEdgar Huntly; or, Memoirs of a Sleep-WalkerIn the wild American frontier, a man haunted by the mysterious death of his friend embarks on a nocturnal journey filled with suspense and dark secrets, where sleepwalking and unta…
Level C1AdventureEben Holden: A Tale of the North CountryIn the rugged Adirondack wilderness, a small boy travels with Uncle Eb, a kind-hearted woodsman with wild stories of fearsome creatures, as they forge a life shaped by hardship, im…
Level C1RomanceEastern Shame GirlIn 17th-century Peking, a young scholar falls deeply for Tu Shih-niang, a captivating singing girl torn between a life of honor and the demands of her world.
Level C1HistoricalEarly Letters of George Wm. Curtis to John S. Dwight; Brook Farm and ConcordA young man immersed in the Transcendental movement attends the innovative Brook Farm school, balancing rigorous study with the natural beauty and reformist ideals of a utopian com…
Level C1HistoricalEarl Hubert's Daughter: The Polishing of the Pearl - A Tale of the 13th CenturyIn a turbulent 13th-century England ruled by superstition and politics, young Margaret, a noble Scottish princess raised amid royal intrigues, must navigate a world where faith, po…
Level C1HistoricalDust: A NovelIn post-Waterloo England, amidst a society of bold youth and shifting class lines, Mrs.
Level C1AdventureDungeon Rock; or, the pirate's cave, at LynnA determined young settler, William Wallace, builds a solitary life by the sea, dedicating himself to aiding those in peril—until a violent storm brings unexpected visitors, includ…
Level C1HistoricalDulcie Carlyon: A novel. Volume 3 (of 3)In the rugged landscapes of Zululand, a relentless pursuit unfolds as Florian, driven by vengeance and grief, chases desperadoes through treacherous terrain, haunted by the memory…
Level C1RomanceDulcie Carlyon: A novel. Volume 2 (of 3)Amidst Scottish pines and shadowed turrets, Finella faces a tense farewell with her true love as jealous rivals and secret notes threaten to unravel their bond before departure.
Level C1HistoricalDrum-TapsAmid the chaos and darkness of war, nature’s enduring beauty offers a hopeful contrast, while reflections on conflict, culture, and humanity challenge us to find faith and dignity…
Level C1HistoricalDrossIn 1869 Paris, amid grand celebrations for Napoleon's centenary, a keen observer navigates the intrigues of empire, power, and identity beneath the pomp and ceremony.
Level C1HistoricalDroll Stories — Complete: Collected from the Abbeys of TouraineStep into the lively world of sixteenth-century Touraine, where gallant knights, witty monks, and merry dames share ribald tales and hearty laughter.
Level C1HistoricalDriftwood Spars: The Stories of a Man, a Boy, a Woman, and Certain Other People Who Strangely Met Upon the Sea of LifeIn a harsh colonial outpost, a soldier reflects on his complex bond with John Ross-Ellison, a man whose extraordinary life intertwines with tales of loyalty, family secrets, and th…
Level C1HistoricalDred: A Tale of the Great Dismal SwampIn the shadow of the Great Dismal Swamp, conflicting worlds collide as liberty and slavery wage a moral battle, seen through vivid characters caught in a society grappling with its…