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.
- 4,982
- books
Level C1HistoricalPoetry of the Anti-Jacobin: Comprising the Celebrated Political and Satirical Poems, of the Rt. Hons. G. Canning, John Hookham Frere, W. Pitt, the Marquis Wellesley, G. Ellis, W. Gifford, the Earl of Carlisle, and Others.Sharp political and satirical poems from the turbulent era of 1797-98 expose the fierce conflicts between Britain and revolutionary France, capturing the wit and turmoil of a natio…
Level C1HistoricalPoems: Patriotic, Religious, MiscellaneousExplore heartfelt verses that intertwine devotion, Southern pride, and reflection, revealing a soul torn between faith and allegiance during a tumultuous era.
Level C1HistoricalPoems of the Great War: Published on the Behalf of the Prince of Wales's National Relief FundPoignant and stirring poems rally a nation in the throes of war, capturing the courage, sacrifice, and resolve of England as it faces the great conflict.
Level C1HistoricalPoems of Henry Timrod; with MemoirExplore the heart and soul of the South through stirring poems born from the trials of war, patriotism, and the enduring spirit of a people.
Level C2HistoricalPoems in Wartime: Part 4 From Volume III of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierIn the tumult of civil war, heartfelt poems confront the agony and hope of a nation divided, exploring sacrifice, liberty, and the fight against slavery with solemn resolve and sti…
Level C1HistoricalPoemsExplore the turbulent spirit of the 1860s through vivid poems reflecting on war, loss, and Southern life, penned by an editor deeply entwined with the era’s history and politics.
Level C1HistoricalPocahontas: A PoemAmid the vibrant life of a Native American village, a fearless princess named Matoax—better known as Pocahontas—rules the hearts and wilds of her land.
Level B2AdventurePo-No-Kah: An Indian Tale of Long AgoIn a frontier settlement surrounded by wilderness and danger, young Bessie Hedden and her siblings find joy and adventure under the watchful protection of their brave dog, Bouncer.
Level C1HistoricalPlaywrights on playmakingExplore the enduring laws and conventions of drama through insightful essays that reveal how playwrights craft stories shaped by their audiences, actors, and times, blending theory…
Level C1HistoricalPlays, Acting and Music: A Book Of TheoryExplore the intricate world of stagecraft, where the art of puppetry challenges traditional acting by blending precision and illusion, revealing new dimensions of theatrical expres…
Level C1HistoricalPlays and PuritansExplore the clash between art and Puritanism in a society wary of true creativity, where religious and cultural tensions challenge the very essence of artistic expression and its p…
Level C1RomancePlaying with Fire: A Story of the Soudan WarA young captain returns home from war to the familiar grounds of childhood, where a delicate dance of love and friendship with his cousin unfolds amidst the backdrop of summer’s wa…
Level C1HistoricalPlaying With FireIn the industrious, misty city of Glasgow, a revered minister of the Church of the Disciples navigates the rigid expectations of faith, family, and duty, revealing the hidden tensi…
Level C1HistoricalPlatform MonologuesExplore the power and beauty of great literature through a series of passionate monologues that delve into the essence of literary art, its sublime impact, and the pursuit of the e…
Level C1HistoricalPlain Tales from the HillsIn the remote hills of India, Lispeth, a beautiful Hill girl raised in Christian faith, discovers love unexpectedly when she nurses a wounded English traveler back to health.
Level C1HistoricalPlague and pestilence in literature and artExplore how ancient beliefs and artistic expressions reveal humanity’s struggle to understand and confront epidemic pestilence, blending magic, religion, and emerging science in a…
Level C1AdventurePirate Princes and Yankee Jacks: Setting forth David Forsyth's Adventures in America's Battles on Sea and Desert with the Buccaneer Princes of Barbary, with an Account of a Search under the Sands of the Sahara Desert for the Treasure-filled Tomb of Ancient KingsA young sailor navigates perilous battles against Barbary pirates and joins a daring desert expedition in search of ancient treasure, uncovering tales of bravery, loss, and the for…
Level C1HistoricalPiping hot! (Pot-bouille)In the heart of 19th-century Paris, a complex family saga unfolds, revealing the intricate ties of heredity and society’s influence on fate.
Level A2HistoricalPipestone National Monument: Junior Ranger Activity Booklet, Ages 8 and UpExplore the sacred pipestone quarries where only American Indians can carve ceremonial pipes, and discover the rich history, geology, and vibrant prairie ecosystem protected by the…
Level B2AdventurePioneer boys of the gold fieldsThree determined boys from different backgrounds join the 1849 California Gold Rush, facing wild beasts, treacherous terrain, and ruthless thieves in their quest for fortune and ad…
Level B2HistoricalPine NeedlesAs the Franklin family reunites at Mosswood, young Maggie and Meredith plan a joyous outdoor dinner in the woods, hoping to bring their beloved Uncle Eden along for an unforgettabl…
Level B2RomancePimpernel and RosemaryIn war-torn Guillaumet, a weary woman secretly mends soldiers' uniforms, hiding tiny messages within, while enduring a harsh and cynical admirer.
Level C1RomancePierre and LuceIn the shadow of war-torn Paris, a young soldier-to-be finds a fragile connection with a mysterious girl during a tense subway ride, where silence and shared fear ignite a quiet, p…
Level C1HistoricalPictures of Hellas: Five Tales of Ancient GreeceStep into the radiant world of ancient Greece, where five tales illuminate the lives and customs beneath a mild sky, revealing vivid portraits of ordinary people woven into the ric…
Level C1HistoricalPictures from English History: A Fireside AmusementChildren and their families gather by the fireside to transform history into an engaging game, sharing vivid tales of ancient battles and kings.
Level B1HistoricalPictures and Stories from Uncle Tom's CabinA desperate mother flees with her young son to escape the cruel sale that tore them apart, braving icy rivers and relentless pursuers in a heart-wrenching tale of courage and hope.
Level C1HistoricalPickwickian Manners and CustomsStep back into a vanished world where debtors' prisons, horse-drawn coaches, and raucous taverns shape a richly comic panorama of Victorian life.
Level B2FantasyPiccolissimaA tiny girl no taller than an inch lives a delicate life in a world crafted from nature’s smallest wonders, from cocoanut cradles to poppy-leaf bonnets.
Level C1AdventurePic the Weapon-MakerJourney back to the harsh world of the Mousterians, an ancient Neanderthal race surviving amid mammoths and cave lions in Ice Age Europe.
Level C1RomancePhilothea: A Grecian RomanceBeneath the moonlit skies of ancient Athens, two friends—Philothea, a radiant maiden touched by the divine, and Eudora—share a mystical bond as they explore the sacred mysteries, g…
Level C1HistoricalPhilosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural PhilosophyExplore a bold new philosophy asserting that all creatures possess both sensitive and rational life, challenging established ideas through a series of passionate and reasoned lette…
Level C1HistoricalPhilochristus: Memoirs of a Disciple of the LordAmid the turmoil of Roman oppression and the destruction of Jerusalem, a disciple named Joseph recalls his life intertwined with the teachings of Jesus, offering a heartfelt testim…
Level C1HistoricalPhilip Winwood: A Sketch of the Domestic History of an American Captain in the War of Independence; Embracing Events that Occurred between and during the Years 1763 and 1786, in New York and London: written by His Enemy in War, Herbert Russell, Lieutenant in the Loyalist Forces.Caught between loyalty and love, an American captain’s story unfolds amid the turmoil of the Revolutionary War, revealing private struggles and valorous deeds in New York and Londo…
Level C1RomancePhilip Rollo; or, the Scottish Musketeers, Vol. 2 (of 2)Amidst the turmoil of war and shifting alliances, a Scottish captain navigates love, loyalty, and the looming threat of conquest as Denmark teeters on the brink of surrender.
Level C1RomancePhilip Rollo; or, the Scottish Musketeers, Vol. 1 (of 2)Amid the chaos of 17th-century European wars, a daring Scottish gentleman serves as a soldier of fortune in Denmark, weaving through battles, love, and intrigue.
Level C1HistoricalPhilip Augustus; or, The Brothers in ArmsDive into the turbulent world of medieval France, where King Philip Augustus navigates fierce battles, political intrigue, and brotherly alliances, revealing the human passions beh…
Level C1HistoricalPhil, the FiddlerA young Italian street musician struggles to survive New York’s harsh streets, playing his battered violin for meager coins while facing cruelty from those who exploit him.
Level C2HistoricalPharsalia; Dramatic Episodes of the Civil WarsAmidst the shattered streets and abandoned fields of Rome, rival armies of kin clash in a brutal civil war that threatens to tear an empire apart.
Level C1MysteryPharos, The Egyptian: A RomanceA mysterious visitor arrives bearing an urgent message from Cyril Forrester, a man caught between sanity and supernatural experience tied to his late Egyptologist father's legacy.
Level C1HistoricalPeveril of the PeakIn the turbulent English Civil War, proud Royalist Sir Geoffrey Peveril defends his ancestral home and navigates loyalty, love, and survival amid battles, sieges, and shifting powe…
Level C1RomancePetticoat RuleIn the glittering court of Louis XV, a young woman’s fierce loyalty to her homeland clashes with the seductive power of the Marquise de Pompadour and the intrigues of royal favor,…
Level C1HistoricalPetrarch, the First Modern Scholar and Man of Letters: A Selection from His Correspondence with Boccaccio and Other Friends, Designed to Illustrate the Beginnings of the RenaissanceDive into the intimate letters and confessions of a pioneering Renaissance thinker whose friendships and self-reflections illuminate the dawn of modern culture and the fading shado…
Level C1RomancePeter's MotherIn a secluded English estate, Lady Mary Crewys navigates the delicate balance of duty and desire within her confined world, where personal wishes are often eclipsed by family and s…
Level B2HistoricalPeter of New Amsterdam: A Story of Old New YorkAn English boy orphaned and struggling in Dutch New Amsterdam navigates a harsh world shaped by religious exile and colonial ambition, offering a child’s eye view of early American…
Level C1HistoricalPeter and Alexis: The Romance of Peter the GreatIn early 18th-century Russia, Tsarevitch Alexis Petrovitch faces the harsh realities of court life and deep religious turmoil, as old beliefs clash with a nation on the brink of We…
Level C1AdventurePeter Simple; and, The Three Cutters, Vol. 1-2A young naval officer embarks on thrilling maritime adventures filled with danger, duty, and discovery, navigating the unpredictable seas and the challenges of life aboard ship in…
Level B2HistoricalPeter Plymley's Letters, and Selected EssaysA witty and wise clergyman tackles the fiery political and religious debates of his time through sharp, ironic letters addressing his brother’s narrow views.
Level B2AdventurePeter Parley's Visit to London, During the Coronation of Queen VictoriaAn eager traveler crosses the Atlantic to witness Queen Victoria’s coronation, exploring London’s bustling streets and marveling at the dazzling new crown and royal treasures amid…