Historical
Read Historical Classics in English
4,982 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 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…
Level C1MysteryThe emerald of Catherine the GreatA sturdy English captain, William Bones, becomes entwined with the Russian court and its secrets during his Baltic voyages, bearing home an extraordinary emerald from Catherine the…
Level C1HistoricalThe eighteen ninetiesExplore the vibrant cultural and intellectual awakening of the 1890s, a decade marked by bold experiments in art, literature, and social ideas, where conflicting visions clash and…
Level C1FantasyThe dryadA rugged soldier of fortune treks through a haunted ancient Greek forest, dismissing superstition and love alike as he seeks favor from foreign rulers.
Level C1HistoricalThe drums rollAmid the restless marches and muddy struggles of the American Revolutionary War, a mysterious soldier with a scarred past joins a weary regiment preparing to strike tents.
Level C1HistoricalThe doomed cityIn the Roman-ruled city of Cæsarea, Crispus, a proud and patriotic young Roman, navigates political tension and cultural clashes between Greeks and Jews, while an imperial envoy ar…
Level C1AdventureThe doom trailIn fog-shrouded London, a lone swordsman stumbles into a fierce alley brawl, while across the wilderness, the fate of a shattered Native American confederacy and colonial powers ha…
Level C1HistoricalThe doctor, &c., vol. 2 (of 7)Explore the intertwining lives and historical events of Doncaster through the eyes of a thoughtful observer, as he reflects on justice, society, love, and the pursuit of knowledge…
Level C1HistoricalThe doctor looks at literatureDelve into the intricate relationship between psychology and literature as a physician explores how fiction reveals the mysteries of the human mind, behavior, and life’s complexiti…
Level C1HistoricalThe discovery and decipherment of the trilingual cuneiform inscriptionsUnravel the century-long scholarly quest to decode the mysterious trilingual cuneiform inscriptions of ancient Persia, revealing the languages and histories carved in stone by king…
Level C1HistoricalThe discarded daughter; or, The children of the isleAmid the lush, mysterious islets of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, old rivalries and hidden secrets simmer near the once-promising town of St.
Level C1HistoricalThe devil in a nunnery, and other mediaeval talesIn medieval Buckinghamshire, a mysterious young pilgrim arrives at a devout nunnery, challenging the strict rules of sanctuary and stirring whispers among the cloistered sisters.
Level B2AdventureThe desert homeVast and varied, the Great American Desert stretches over a million square miles of shifting sands, rugged mountains, and surprising oases, inviting daring explorers to uncover its…
Level C1RomanceThe dead trystTwo cousins, bound by a childhood betrothal, face the arrival of a dashing English officer who stirs conflicting emotions amidst the looming siege of Paris; loyalty, love, and duty…
Level C1HistoricalThe dark year of DundeeAmid the looming shadow of pestilence in 1544 Dundee, Mary Wigton faces hardship and lost family lands while navigating a town gripped by turmoil and uncertain loyalties during the…
Level B2AdventureThe cruise of the SnarkA daring crew abandons comfort and convention to sail their small yacht, the Snark, around the world, driven by a thirst for personal achievement and the call of the sea’s wild adv…
Level C1HistoricalThe crow's-nestConfined to a garden chair and barred from the comforts of home, an observant woman must find meaning and inspiration in the subtle dramas of nature and human behavior unfolding ar…
Level C1AdventureThe corsair; a romantic legend of Hell Gate: illustrating the beauty of innocence. Date of the action: Midsummer, 1627Amid the perilous waters of Hell Gate in 1627, a pirate’s daughter faces eerie omens and ancient superstitions as their ship navigates treacherous straits steeped in history and my…
Level B2HistoricalThe corporal's storyAmidst border tensions and youthful dreams, a seasoned corporal watches over eager young soldiers stationed near the Mexican frontier, where romance and reality collide under the s…
Level C1HistoricalThe conspirators; or, The chevalier d'HarmentalIn early 18th-century Paris, a young baron urgently recruits a daring captain to join a duel that could change everything.
Level C2HistoricalThe complete works of John Gower, volume 3Dive into medieval England’s turmoil through poetic tales of love, virtue, and political strife, exploring human passions and royal challenges during King Richard II’s reign and be…
Level C1RomanceThe colonel's daughterIn the harsh, sun-scorched outpost of Camp Sandy, a weary adjutant contemplates the slow rhythms of army life amid desert barracks and distant mountains.
Level C1HistoricalThe collected works of Henrik Ibsen, Vol. 05 (of 11)A powerful drama unfolds in the Mediterranean world of ancient Rome, where the young Emperor Julian confronts the clash between fading antiquity and rising medievalism, wrestling w…
Level C1HistoricalThe cobbler of NîmesIn 1703 Nîmes, a bustling fair hides secret tensions as a mysterious showman displays the body of a "damned Huguenot," drawing a curious cobbler into a world of religious conflict,…
Level B2HistoricalThe clammer and the submarineBeneath an ancient pine overlooking a serene harbor, a contemplative gardener wrestles with the changing seasons and the encroaching shadows of war, blending the quiet rhythms of r…
Level C1RomanceThe circuit riderIn a rugged frontier wilderness, a determined circuit rider braves dangers from wild revels to highwaymen, bringing order and faith to a chaotic land.
Level B2AdventureThe children of Old Park's TavernAt Old Park's Tavern, the bustling preparations for a lively political convention bring Dolly, a curious city girl, into the heart of country life, where debates, feasts, and unexp…
Level C1HistoricalThe children of AlsaceIn the misty forests of Alsace, a divided family grapples with clashing loyalties amid the region's struggle between French and German identities.
Level C1AdventureThe cardinal's musketeerIn the shadowy streets of 17th-century Paris, a gifted clockmaker’s adopted son discovers a world of intricate timepieces and hidden mysteries within his father’s shop, where mecha…
Level C1HistoricalThe bushwhackers & other storiesA young mountaineer climbs a rugged peak daily, eyes fixed on the distant valley below, longing for a sign of approaching conflict amid the serene wilderness.
Level B2HistoricalThe brave little maid of GoldauAmidst the lush Swiss valley of Goldau in 1806, a young maid named Franziska tends to a cozy mountain home while dark clouds and ominous cracks on the mountain hint at a brewing na…
Level B1HistoricalThe blue socksA determined young girl sets out to knit socks for soldiers, balancing her good intentions with family duties and school life.
Level C1HistoricalThe black wolf's breedIn the wilds of 18th-century Louisiana, a seasoned soldier reflects on a world of clashing swords and fierce honor, where French empire-building meets untamed frontier life, myster…
Level C1HistoricalThe black tulipIn 1672’s turbulent Hague, political intrigue swirls around the De Witt brothers, defenders of the fragile Dutch Republic facing threats from the rising power of Prince William of…
Level B2AdventureThe black barqueA battle-hardened sailor, freshly ashore in Havre, navigates a world of restless veterans and shifting loyalties after war’s end, seeking a new ship and a fresh start amid simmerin…
Level C1HistoricalThe beloved of Hathor, and The shrine of the Golden HawkAmid the looming expulsion of the Hyksos, Aahmes, favored by the goddess Hathor, faces a fateful choice between spiritual destiny and worldly triumph.
Level C1HistoricalThe battle of the Swash and the capture of CanadaAmid rising tensions and neglected defenses, the British fleet launches a daring attack on New York, sparking the dramatic Battle of the Swash and the unexpected capture of Canada…
Level C1HistoricalThe amulet: A novelAn English girl explores the eerie quiet of a frontier fort in the Great Smoky Mountains after a long war, where the moon’s strange superstition and simmering tensions among soldie…
Level C1AdventureThe adventures of Rob RoyIn the rugged Scottish Highlands, young Colin Bane and Oina MacAleister grow up amidst wild landscapes and fierce clans, where strength and courage are tested in a land marked by a…
Level C1AdventureThe adventures of Captain Mago; or, a Phoenician expedition, B.C. 1000Set sail on a daring Phoenician expedition as Captain Mago is summoned by King Hiram to secure rare treasures from distant Tarshish, aiding in the grand construction of King David’…
Level C1FantasyThe adventure of the broad arrow: An Australian romanceIn a harsh, waterless Australian desert, desperate miners gamble their lives chasing elusive gold amid fever, thirst, and decay.
Level C1MysteryThe Zeppelin's PassengerAmid rumors of a daring Zeppelin's near-disaster over Dutchman's Common, a tense gathering unravels secrets of war, missing officers, and mysterious observation cars.
Level B2MysteryThe Zeppelin Destroyer: Being Some Chapters of Secret HistoryAmidst the dangers of early aviation and World War I’s aerial battles, a determined young pilot and his fellow airmen strive to outmatch the enemy’s deadly Zeppelins using daring e…
Level B2AdventureThe Yukon Trail: A Tale of the NorthAs the midnight sun fades over the Yukon, a newcomer observes the rigid social divides of a frontier mining town where rough prospectors clash with a self-styled elite.
Level C1RomanceThe Youth of the Great ElectorAmid political turmoil and looming war, Elector George William confronts rebellious demands from the duchy of Cleves, testing his authority and resolve.
Level C1HistoricalThe Youth of Jefferson: Or, a Chronicle of College Scrapes at Williamsburg, in Virginia, A.D. 1764In 1764 Williamsburg, a sharp-witted young man armed with humor and a gun defends his liberty—and his heart—amid college scrapes and friendships rich with playful banter and secret…
Level C1HistoricalThe Younger American PoetsExplore a thoughtful study of America’s emerging poets born within the last fifty years, revealing the diverse voices shaping modern verse and the evolving landscape of contemporar…
Level C1AdventureThe Young Yagers: A Narrative of Hunting Adventures in Southern AfricaNear the confluence of Southern Africa's great rivers, six young hunters gather by a campfire, blending friendship, family ties, and the rugged promise of adventure.