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 C1HistoricalA history of criticism and literary taste in Europe, from the earliest texts to the present day. Volume 1 (of 3), Classical and mediæval criticismExplore the evolution of literary criticism from ancient Greece to the medieval era, tracing the ideas and figures that shaped the art of judging authors and texts.
Level C1HistoricalA history of criticism and literary taste in Europe from the earliest texts to the present day. Volume 2 (of 3), From the Renaissance to the decline of eighteenth century orthodoxyExplore the rich evolution of European literary criticism from the Renaissance through the eighteenth century, spotlighting the vibrant debate between English, French, and German c…
Level C1HistoricalA history of Italian literatureExplore the rich tapestry of Italian literature, tracing its deep classical roots and profound influence on European culture, while uncovering the complexities of its development t…
Level C1HistoricalA history of English literatureExplore the rich origins and evolution of English literature from its mysterious beginnings through the Old English period, tracing historical events and literary milestones that s…
Level C1HistoricalA few days in Athens: being the translation of a Greek manuscript discovered in HerculaneumIn turbulent Athens, young Theon grapples with the clash between Stoic and Epicurean philosophies as he confronts dark secrets and moral decay beneath the city's ancient wisdom.
Level C1RomanceA crown of strawIn a shadowy room in Stuttgart, three men prepare a loaded pistol, setting the stage for a gripping tale of romance entwined with a dramatized, tragic event in contemporary history…
Level C1FantasyA brother to dragons, and other old-time talesIn 1586, amidst family feuds and whispered hauntings, a skeptical man confronts a fiery ghost said to inhabit a castle’s blue chamber, challenging beliefs and stirring tensions bet…
Level C1HistoricalA blighted lifeA noblewoman battles relentless persecution and injustice as she exposes the cruel misuse of lunacy laws that allow her husband to imprison her in a madhouse.
Level C1HistoricalA battle pieceAmid the tense night before the Battle of Long Island, weary Continental soldiers grapple with impatience and uncertainty under General Putnam's watchful eye, while Washington stra…
Level C1HistoricalA bad pennyIn a fading New England seaboard town, a spirited boy destined for the ministry clashes with his strict Puritan aunt while dreaming of the sea and adventure beyond his rigid upbrin…
Level C1AdventureA Young Macedonian in the Army of Alexander the GreatAt the ancient Olympic Games, young Charidemus, crowned champion runner, faces a shocking challenge to his Greek identity that threatens his honor and place in society.
Level C1HistoricalA Woman of the Ice AgeAmid the vast Ice Age, two prehistoric souls, Lhatto and Ogga, defy the stereotype of primitive man, embodying beauty, love, and complex emotion in a harsh, evolving world where su…
Level C1HistoricalA Woman of YesterdayIn a remote Vermont village, Anna Mallison faces a turning point as she prepares to join her father's church, confronting the weight of her past and the promise of a new, disciplin…
Level C1HistoricalA Woman of ThirtyIn Napoleonic Paris, a young woman and her aging father navigate a world of social intrigue and impending historical upheaval.
Level C1RomanceA War-Time Wooing: A StoryAmid the turmoil of war, a young woman mourning her brother’s death finds unexpected connection and hope through a heartfelt correspondence with a gallant officer she has never met…
Level C1AdventureA Victor of SalamisIn the midst of the fierce Isthmian Games, Glaucon, a disinherited Athenian champion, defies expectations and bitter rivalries to claim victory against Sparta's mightiest athlete,…
Level C1HistoricalA Twentieth Century IdealistIn a world where ideals shape reality, a reflective doctor and a young athlete explore the depths beneath ordinary life, unveiling the compelling tension between practical ambition…
Level C1HistoricalA True Hero: A Story of the Days of William PennIn a turbulent England where religious worship is tightly controlled and dissent punished, a group of Quakers defiantly gather under armed guard, challenging the oppressive Convent…
Level C1HistoricalA Trooper GalahadIn the rugged life of a Texas army post, a once-respected officer faces disgrace and hardship, struggling to protect his family amid harsh military politics and fading honor.
Level C1HistoricalA Traveller in Little ThingsAn insightful wanderer explores the small, often overlooked details of rural life, uncovering the truths and stories of farmers, laborers, and village folk.
Level C1HistoricalA Translation of Octavia, a Latin Tragedy, with Notes and IntroductionIn the shadow of Nero’s tyrannical reign, Octavia, once a royal bride, faces exile and execution amidst political intrigue and betrayal.
Level C1HistoricalA Thorny Path — CompleteIn sunlit Alexandria, a master gem-cutter struggles between his fierce pride and the charms of his talented children, whose art and ambitions challenge his bitter view of the world…
Level C1AdventureA Thane of Wessex: Being a Story of the Great Viking Raids into SomersetA young thane, wrongfully accused of treason and betrayed by a trusted friend, faces imprisonment and a public trial amid the looming threat of Viking raids in ancient Somerset.
Level C1HistoricalA Tale of the Kloster: A Romance of the German Mystics of the CocalicoIn the heart of colonial Pennsylvania, a devoted band of German mystics seeks a life of faith and simplicity amid a diverse and turbulent new world.
Level C1HistoricalA Survey of Russian Literature, with SelectionsExplore the origins of Russian literature intertwined with the nation's dramatic conversion to Christianity in 988, as ancient pagan traditions give way to Byzantine influences and…
Level C1HistoricalA Supplication for the BeggarsAmidst religious upheaval, a fiery pamphlet challenges the church's power and calls out the manipulations of beggars and heretics alike, igniting fierce debates on faith, scripture…
Level C1HistoricalA Struggle for Rome, v. 3Amidst the fall of Gothic kings and the turmoil of war, commanders navigate shifting loyalties and imperial ambitions to secure Italy’s future.
Level C1HistoricalA Struggle for Rome, v. 2Amidst the turmoil of Gothic and Byzantine forces clashing over Italy, Valerius faces a desperate battle to defend his homeland from invading Greeks led by the cunning Belisarius,…
Level C1HistoricalA Struggle for Rome, v. 1Amid the shadowed ruins of a once-mighty temple, a mysterious gathering unfolds on a stormy night in 526 A.
Level C1HistoricalA Strange World: A Novel. Volume 3 (of 3)As a proud woman faces a swift and relentless illness, a devoted visitor seeks to uncover long-hidden secrets and offer comfort through faith and compassion, challenging notions of…
Level C1FantasyA Southern Cross fairy taleOn a warm New Zealand Christmas Eve, two children gather vibrant flowers to honor their mother’s distant memories of snowy Christmases, blending the magic of fairy tales with the u…
Level C1HistoricalA Song of the GunsAmidst the relentless thunder of artillery in the trenches of World War I, soldiers become both masters and slaves to their guns, navigating the brutal realities of war through the…
Level C1RomanceA Song of a Single Note: A Love StoryAmid the turmoil of a war-torn New York under occupation, an old elder receives troubling news that stirs questions of loyalty, faith, and survival.
Level C1RomanceA Son of the ImmortalsIn early 20th-century Paris, artist Joan Vernon balances her passion for painting with encounters that hint at romance and rivalry, all set against the vibrant backdrop of the Lati…
Level C1HistoricalA Son of the Gods, and A Horseman in the SkyAmidst the tense silence of a halted army facing a foreboding stone wall and hedge, soldiers prepare to confront an elusive enemy in a landscape scarred by relentless battle.
Level C1HistoricalA Son of Mars, volume 2Caught between family loyalty and duty, a soldier faces the turmoil of forbidden love and impending war as his regiment prepares for a dangerous campaign in Ashanti.
Level C1HistoricalA Son at the FrontAn American portrait painter in Montmartre awaits his son's arrival from England just as Europe teeters on the brink of war, capturing a world where art, ambition, and the looming…
Level C1HistoricalA Soldier's Trial: An Episode of the Canteen CrusadeIn the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, Colonel Ray, a seasoned and honorable officer burdened by family financial woes, seeks new hope as he invites his determined relative…
Level C1HistoricalA Sketch of the Life and Times of Judge HaliburtonExplore the rich heritage and colonial history of Nova Scotia through the life of Judge Haliburton, tracing his family roots, education, and the early settlement of Windsor amid a…
Level C1HistoricalA Sister to Evangeline: Being the Story of Yvonne de Lamourie, and how she went into exile with the villagers of Grand PréAmid the apple blossoms of Grand Pré, a soldier-poet returns to his ancestral village, wrestling with memory, loss, and the uncertain ties of family and friendship in the fading wo…
Level C1GothicA Sicilian RomanceIn a crumbling Sicilian castle, the noble Mazzini family’s dark past unfolds through tales of luxury, vice, and complex family dynamics.
Level C1HistoricalA Short History of French LiteratureExplore the evolution of French literature from its anonymous medieval origins to the distinctive voices of the Renaissance and the structured schools of the seventeenth and eighte…
Level C1HistoricalA Shepherd's Life: Impressions of the South Wiltshire DownsVast, windswept chalk downs stretch across Wiltshire, a landscape both desolate and quietly captivating, where a lone bird-scarer stands sentinel against the elements.
Level C1HistoricalA Sheaf of BluebellsAmidst Napoleon's reign and the shadowy intrigues of his Minister of Police, two noble families seek to reclaim their place in France under a fragile amnesty, navigating a world wh…
Level C1AdventureA Set of Rogues: Namely Christopher Sutton, John Dawson, the Señor Don Sanchez Del Castillo De Castelaña and Moll Dawson; Their Wicked Conspiracy, and a True Account of Their Travels and AdventuresA troupe of actors turned wanderers struggles to survive plague-ravaged England, facing misfortune, mischief, and misadventure on the road.
Level C1HistoricalA Secret Service: Being Strange Tales of a NihilistIn a London exile’s confession, the shadowy world of Russian Nihilists unfolds amid brutal oppression and desperate hope for reform.
Level C1MysteryA Search For A Secret: A Novel. Vol. 3Years after a failed search for a hidden will, the narrator grapples with loss, hope, and distant love as letters from India keep alive dreams of reunion.
Level C1MysteryA Search For A Secret: A Novel. Vol. 1In a timeless cathedral town where change is scarce, a young man reflects on his childhood and the secrets woven into his peaceful surroundings, setting the stage for a mystery roo…