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 C1RomanceA Ladder of Swords: A Tale of Love, Laughter and TearsIn a perilous world of faith and war during Queen Elizabeth’s reign, a young Huguenot couple defies danger and separation, their love tested by exile, secret letters, and the deadl…
Level C1AdventureA Knight of the White Cross: A Tale of the Siege of RhodesAmidst the fierce battles between Christian knights and Ottoman forces, a young nobleman joins the legendary Knights Hospitallers, defending Rhodes against a relentless siege.
Level C1AdventureA Knight of the CumberlandIn the rugged Cumberland Mountains, a spirited young woman known as the Blight ventures beyond familiar trails into a wild land of moonshiners and feuds, where her charm and boldne…
Level C1AdventureA King's Comrade: A Story of Old HerefordAs a Danish jarl brings a mysterious company to a quiet shore, ancient loyalties and dark destinies entwine around the martyrdom of King Ethelbert.
Level C1HistoricalA King of Tyre: A Tale of the Times of Ezra and NehemiahIn the bustling island city of Tyre, a proud people face a crisis as their ancient commercial empire wanes beneath Persian rule and Greek ascendancy.
Level C1HistoricalA Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin: Presenting the original facts and documents upon which the story is founded. Together with corroborative statements verifying the truth of the work.Expose the harsh realities behind a beloved story by exploring the real events and testimonies that inspired it, revealing the unvarnished truths of slavery’s moral and legal evils…
Level C1HistoricalA Key to Lord Tennyson's 'In Memoriam'Explore the profound grief and consolation woven through a journey to the quiet English villages that shaped a timeless tribute to loss and hope.
Level C1HistoricalA Journal of the Plague Year: Being Observations or Memorials of the Most Remarkable Occurrences, as Well Public as Private, Which Happened in London During the Last Great Visitation in 1665. Written by a Citizen Who Continued All the While in LondonAs the plague silently spreads through London in 1665, a vigilant citizen chronicles the eerie rise in deaths and the city's desperate attempts to conceal the terrifying outbreak.
Level C1HistoricalA Jay of ItalyIn 1476 Italy, a proud cavalier and his enigmatic lady halt at a mysterious inn, where sharp wit and dark humor clash with the rustic world around them.
Level C1HistoricalA History of the French Novel, Vol. 2: To the Close of the 19th CenturyExplore the rich evolution of the French novel throughout the 19th century, with in-depth studies of major authors and insightful reflections on literary trends, capturing a transf…
Level C1HistoricalA History of the French Novel, Vol. 1: From the Beginning to 1800Explore the origins and evolution of the French novel, tracing its rise from early verse romances to prose fiction, while uncovering the literary pleasures and key experiments that…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Spanish LiteratureExplore the vibrant evolution of Castilian literature from its Roman roots to the Silver Age, uncovering its unique originality and powerful influence shaped by diverse cultural cu…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Sanskrit LiteratureExplore the rich tapestry of ancient Indian civilization through a comprehensive history of Sanskrit literature, revealing its profound influence on modern culture and thought with…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Roman LiteratureExplore the origins and evolution of Roman literature, tracing its roots from practical beginnings to political influence, and uncover the lives and works of both celebrated and lo…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Roman Classical Literature.Explore the rise of Roman literature from its humble beginnings through a period of conquest and cultural exchange, revealing how Greek influence shaped Rome’s poetic, dramatic, an…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Pendennis, Volume 1: His fortunes and misfortunes, his friends and his greatest enemyIn the vibrant London season, Major Arthur Pendennis navigates society’s highs and lows, balancing first love, friendships, and the challenges of his era with honesty and wit.
Level C1HistoricalA History of PantomimeTrace the vibrant evolution of pantomime from ancient Grecian and Roman theaters through diverse global traditions, revealing the origins of iconic characters like Harlequin and Cl…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Nineteenth Century Literature (1780-1895)Explore the vibrant landscape of 19th-century literature, navigating the challenges of critiquing living authors and the vast array of influential writers shaping the era’s literar…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Literary Criticism in the Renaissance: With special reference to the influence of Italy in the formation and development of modern classicismExplore the origins of modern literary criticism as it emerges from the Italian Renaissance, tracing the birth of classicism and the lasting influence of Italian humanism on Europe…
Level C1HistoricalA History of French Literature: Short Histories of the Literatures of the World: II.Explore the rich tapestry of French literature from the Middle Ages to the decline of Romanticism, uncovering how feudalism, Christianity, and evolving social ideals shaped its art…
Level C1HistoricalA History of English Romanticism in the Eighteenth CenturyExplore the gradual rise of English Romanticism in the eighteenth century, tracing its scattered origins and unique character through influential poets, Gothic revival, and the ech…
Level C1HistoricalA History of English Prose FictionExplore the evolution of English prose fiction from medieval chivalric romances—filled with knights, magic, and legend—to the diverse novels of the nineteenth century, revealing ho…
Level C1HistoricalA History of English LiteratureExplore the evolution of English literature through its social context, key authors, and timeless works, gaining insight into both the historical backdrop and the artistic expressi…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Elizabethan LiteratureExplore the vibrant world of Elizabethan literature through a meticulous, firsthand study of its authors and works, tracing its origins and evolution with rich critical insight and…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Chinese LiteratureExplore the rich tapestry of Chinese literature from mythical origins to the flourishing of early states, revealing a civilization where ancient cosmogony, feudal rivalry, and cult…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Bohemian LiteratureExplore the rich yet often overlooked evolution of Bohemian literature, deeply intertwined with the nation’s turbulent history and cultural revival, revealing the struggles and tri…
Level C1HistoricalA History of American Literature Since 1870Explore the transformative period in American literature following the Civil War, when writers forged a distinct national voice, breaking from imitation to create works deeply root…
Level C1HistoricalA Heroine of France: The Story of Joan of ArcAmidst the despair of a France overshadowed by English conquest and a slumbering king, whispers of a mysterious young maiden claiming divine purpose stir hope.
Level C1AdventureA Hero of TiconderogaIn the quiet wilderness near Fort Ticonderoga, a solitary hunter named Job Carpenter encounters Seth Beeman and his family journeying through the snow, revealing ties of friendship…
Level C1HistoricalA Hero of Our TimeIn the rugged Caucasus Mountains, a mysterious officer with a shadowed past crosses paths with a new traveler, revealing a world of harsh landscapes, cultural clashes, and the enig…
Level C1AdventureA Gunner Aboard the "Yankee": From the Diary of Number Five of the After Port Gun (Russell Doubleday): The Yarn of the Cruise and Fights of the Naval Reserves in the Spanish-American WarExperience the gripping journey of the New York Naval Reserves aboard the auxiliary cruiser "Yankee" as they transition from civilians to sailors, facing the challenges and camarad…
Level C1RomanceA Golden Book of VeniceIn 16th-century Venice, beneath sunlit skies and amidst grand churches, a vibrant city of art, power, and mystery awakens, where noble families, artists, and clergy gather in a wor…
Level C1HistoricalA Girl of the CommuneIn a respected English town, a prominent solicitor's family faces tensions as his eldest daughter returns from Girton College with radical ideas about women's roles, challenging th…
Level C1HistoricalA Girl Among the AnarchistsAn intimate journey into the world of English anarchists reveals the complexities behind a misunderstood movement, exploring its philosophies, personalities, and the social forces…
Level C1AdventureA Gentleman of France: Being the Memoirs of Gaston de Bonne Sieur de MarsacA fallen nobleman, stripped of fortune and favor, clings to honor amid the turbulent politics of 16th-century France, awaiting a summons that could change his fate.
Level C1AdventureA Gentleman Player; His Adventures on a Secret Mission for Queen ElizabethIn 1601 London, amidst the vibrant chaos of the Globe Theatre, a gentleman undertakes a secret mission for Queen Elizabeth, navigating intrigue and danger beneath the public specta…
Level C1RomanceA Galahad of the Creeks; The Widow LamportAn ambitious young Englishman takes up his post as assistant commissioner in remote Pazobin, Burma, where the mysterious creeks and local customs challenge his resolve and reveal a…
Level C1HistoricalA Frontier MysteryRival warriors on opposite sides of a river face off in a fierce, bloodied contest, bound by shared heritage yet divided by fierce loyalty and territory.
Level C1HistoricalA Friend of Cæsar: A Tale of the Fall of the Roman Republic. Time, 50-47 B.C.In the heated summer of 50 B.
Level C1AdventureA Fortune Hunter; Or, The Old Stone Corral: A Tale of the Santa Fe TrailAmid the serene yet untamed Santa Fe Trail, a haunting tragedy lingers at the Old Stone Corral, where lost love and buried secrets await discovery.
Level C1HistoricalA Forgotten Hero; Or, Not for HimIn 1290 England, young Clarice is sent away from home to be educated under noble ladies, navigating the rigid customs and whispered scandals of medieval court life as she prepares…
Level C1RomanceA Forest Hearth: A Romance of Indiana in the ThirtiesIn the untamed wilderness of 1830s Indiana, a fiercely just matriarch battles nature and family strife while her gentle daughter, Rita, navigates the harsh realities of pioneer lif…
Level C1AdventureA Floating City, and The Blockade RunnersEmbark on the monumental voyage aboard the “Great Eastern,” a colossal steamship that sails like a floating city across the Atlantic.
Level C1HistoricalA First Year in Canterbury SettlementAn Englishman embarks on a challenging first year in the Canterbury Settlement, navigating colonial life through vivid letters and journal entries that reveal the raw, youthful per…
Level C1HistoricalA Dream of John Ball; and, A King's LessonTransported to a vivid medieval English village, a dreamer encounters a mysterious armored figure and a world where history's beauty and social struggles come alive, challenging hi…
Level C1HistoricalA Dream of Empire; Or, The House of BlennerhassettOn Blennerhassett Island in spring, an English overseer tends a new plantation amid blooming orchards and fields, while a curious stranger arrives by the river, setting the stage f…
Level C1HistoricalA Dish of Orts : Chiefly Papers on the Imagination, and on ShakespeareExplore the nature and power of imagination as a divine creative faculty, unveiling its role in education, art, and understanding beyond mere facts.
Level C1HistoricalA Discourse on the Life, Character and Writings of Gulian Crommelin Verplanck: Delivered before the New-York Historical Society, May 17th, 1870Explore the rich legacy of Gulian Crommelin Verplanck, a pivotal figure whose life intertwined with literature, legislation, and public service in early New York.