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 C1HistoricalMary Schweidler, the amber witch: The most interesting trial for witchcraft ever known, printed from an imperfect manuscript by her father, Abraham Schweidler, the pastor of Coserow in the island of Usedom / edited by W. Meinhold ; translated from the German by Lady Duff Gordon.In a small island church, a forgotten manuscript reveals the harrowing trial of Mary Schweidler, accused of witchcraft amid dark superstitions and brutal justice.
Level C1HistoricalMary Powell & Deborah's DiaryAmid the bitter clash of King and Parliament, a 17-year-old country girl marries the fiery poet John Milton, sparking a turbulent union marked by separation, pamphlets on divorce,…
Level C1HistoricalMary Magdalen: A ChronicleIn a vibrant Roman circus, political intrigue brews beneath the roar of chariot races as Herod Antipas uses grand games to mask his fragile hold on power in the volatile city of Ti…
Level B2MysteryMary Louise and the Liberty GirlsIn a small town struggling to meet its Liberty Bond quota during wartime, Mary Louise and her friends step up to prove that even the humblest girls can make a vital difference thro…
Level C1HistoricalMary LambExplore the intertwined lives of Mary Lamb and her brother Charles, whose deep bond and friendships with literary figures like Coleridge and Wordsworth sustain them through tragedy…
Level C1HistoricalMary DerwentIn the untamed Wyoming Valley, amidst clashing settlers and looming danger, a determined pioneer strives to build a home and find hope after personal loss, weaving a vivid tale of…
Level C1HistoricalMary Anerley: A Yorkshire TaleIn 18th-century Yorkshire, a fierce family feud unfolds along the treacherous Tees River, where legacy, rebellion, and tragedy collide at the infamous Seven Corpse Ford.
Level B2MysteryMartin of old LondonIn the smoky streets of 1666 London, fourteen-year-old Martin Leake navigates the bustling riverbank and a mysterious rendezvous that hints at hidden dangers.
Level C1RomanceMartin ValliantIn the shadowed halls of a moonlit priory, Brother Geraint prowls with a sly grin and simmering hatred, plotting against the young, golden-haired novice whose bold piety threatens…
Level C1AdventureMartin RattlerA young adventurer braves the untamed forests of Brazil, facing wild challenges and thrilling discoveries that test his courage and resilience in this gripping tale of survival and…
Level C1HistoricalMarsena, and Other Stories of the WartimeIn a small village during the Civil War, Marsena Pulford, a proud and mysterious artist burdened by past sorrows and poverty, struggles to find his place and rebuild his life amid…
Level C1AdventureMarooned on AustraliaSurvivors of the Batavia shipwreck face mutiny, betrayal, and brutal storms as they struggle to survive on a remote Australian island, caught between treacherous seas and restless…
Level C1HistoricalMarmion: A Tale Of Flodden FieldIn the shadow of the Battle of Flodden, a poetic minstrel weaves a stirring tale of war, honor, and Scotland’s turbulent autumn, capturing the clash of swords and the spirit of a n…
Level C1AdventureMarmaduke Merry: A Tale of Naval Adventures in Bygone DaysA lively family bound by laughter and loyalty sets the stage for daring naval adventures, where youthful spirits and hearty tales lead to thrilling exploits beyond their quiet Leic…
Level C1HistoricalMark Twain: A Biography. Volume III, Part 1: 1900-1907After a financial crisis and a world of sympathy, a celebrated author returns to America to find himself hailed as a conquering hero and drawn into a whirlwind of public attention,…
Level C1HistoricalMark Twain: A Biography. Volume I, Part 2: 1866-1875Emerging from deep despair, a man channels his restless mind into a bold lecture tour about the Hawaiian Islands, conquering fear and gaining fame through humor and eloquence.
Level C1HistoricalMarius the Epicurean — Volume 2Amid the refined courts of ancient Rome, a young epicurean grapples with reconciling his intellectual ideals and the enduring pull of traditional morality, as eloquent Stoic teachi…
Level C1HistoricalMarius the Epicurean — Volume 1In ancient Rome, young Marius embraces the fading traditions of paganism, finding deep reverence and ritual in the old religion of hearth and nature.
Level B2AdventureMarion's Faith.Two cavalry officers navigate duty and family ties on the Western frontier, where past loves and present loyalties collide against the backdrop of rugged prairie life.
Level C1HistoricalMarion Harland's Autobiography: The Story of a Long LifeExperience a firsthand account of the Old South’s rise and fall through the eyes of a woman whose memory spans from pre-Civil War days to the dawn of a restored Union, revealing in…
Level C1RomanceMarietta: A Maid of VeniceIn the secretive glass workshops of Murano, a fiery master keeps a watchful eye on his talented daughter Marietta and the mysterious Dalmatian servant Zorzi, whose growing skills a…
Level C1RomanceMarie; a story of Russian loveAmidst the vast Russian steppes, a young sergeant reflects on his unconventional upbringing and the loyal bonds that shape his life, setting the stage for a poignant tale of love a…
Level C1AdventureMarie: An Episode in the Life of the Late Allan QuatermainIn turbulent 1836 Southern Africa, as the Boers embark on the Great Trek into unknown lands, danger and betrayal lurk amid clashes with the Zulu kingdom.
Level C1HistoricalMarie Grubbe, a Lady of the Seventeenth CenturyIn 17th-century Denmark, Marie Grubbe’s scandalous life unfolds through forbidden loves and defiance of societal norms, revealing a woman who challenges the rigid constraints of he…
Level C1RomanceMarie Gourdon: A Romance of the Lower St. LawrenceIn 1745 Scotland, amidst fierce storms and family strife within a Norman castle, the legacy of displaced Scottish soldiers unfolds as they blend into the rugged landscapes and cult…
Level B2HistoricalMarie Antoinette and Her SonAmidst the grandeur of Versailles and the cheers of Paris, a radiant queen presents her children to the nation, embodying hope and maternal pride.
Level C1RomanceMarianson: From "Mackinac And Lake Stories", 1899Amid the tense backdrop of the 1812 British invasion, a young Canadian voyageur flees through the wilds of Mackinac Island, seeking refuge in a mysterious cave where he encounters…
Level C1HistoricalMarguerite de ValoisOn the eve of a royal wedding between bitter enemies from Catholic and Protestant factions, political intrigue and deadly secrets simmer beneath the lavish festivities at the Louvr…
Level C1RomanceMarguerite De Roberval: A Romance of the Days of Jacques CartierIn 1539 France, daring seaman Jacques Cartier longs to escape cramped streets and return to the New World where gold, diamonds, and adventure await, while his loyal companion warns…
Level C1HistoricalMargery (Gred): A Tale Of Old Nuremberg — CompleteAmidst the faded pages of a 15th-century manuscript, a German housewife named Margery Schopper begins to chronicle her life in old Nuremberg, revealing intimate memories, family so…
Level C1RomanceMargaret Tudor: A Romance of Old St. AugustineHeld captive in 1670 San Augustin, Margaret Tudor pens a desperate plea for freedom while navigating perilous seas, lost loved ones, and a blossoming love with a noble kinsman amid…
Level C1HistoricalMargaret Smith's Journal: Part 1 from Volume V of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierIn 1678 Massachusetts Bay, a young woman begins a heartfelt journal chronicling her arrival, the stark new land, and the complex society she encounters—from kind relatives to stern…
Level C1HistoricalMargaret Smith's Journal, and Tales and Sketches, Complete: Volume V of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierA young woman chronicles her journey from England to the challenging yet hopeful New England colony of 1678, revealing vivid portraits of early settlers and the harsh realities of…
Level C1RomanceMargaret Capel: A Novel, vol. 3 of 3In the quiet seclusion of Ashdale, Margaret Capel seeks solace from her sorrows, enduring unwanted attentions while finding healing in the wild beauty of the autumn shore.
Level C1HistoricalMargaret Capel: A Novel, vol. 1 of 3When seventeen-year-old Margaret Capel arrives under the guardianship of her distant relative, tensions simmer over her future and inheritance.
Level B2AdventureMarcy, the RefugeeAmid Civil War turmoil, Marcy Gray, a loyal North Carolina boy, risks dangerous blockades and rebel foes to support the Union cause, navigating secret alliances and perilous waters…
Level B2AdventureMarcy the Blockade RunnerA young pilot caught between loyalty and suspicion navigates dangerous waters as secret enemies threaten his family and his cause during a turbulent time.
Level B2AdventureMarcus: the Young CenturionIn the sun-drenched Roman villa, young Marcus, son of a famed senator, awakens from a heat-induced nap to the sounds of mischief in the vineyard—setting the stage for an adventurou…
Level B2AdventureMarching on Niagara; Or, The Soldier Boys of the Old FrontierAmidst the turmoil of French and Indian hostilities, young frontiersmen David and Henry Morris navigate the dangers of a contested wilderness, joining forces with colonial leaders…
Level B2AdventureMaori and Settler: A Story of The New Zealand WarIn the midst of the New Zealand Wars, young Wilfrid Renshaw faces upheaval and conflict as settlers and Maori tribes clash over land, law, and survival.
Level C1HistoricalManuel Pereira; Or, The Sovereign Rule of South CarolinaIn the tense waters off South Carolina, a shipwrecked sailor faces unjust imprisonment under harsh laws designed to uphold a fragile, oppressive social order.
Level C1HistoricalManners: A Novel, Vol 3In a stately Irish household marked by pride and parsimony, Miss Fitzcarril manages a strict estate while secretly indulging in forbidden fortune-telling.
Level C1AdventureManco, the Peruvian Chief: Or, An Englishman's Adventures in the Country of the IncasAn English family settles in the rugged Peruvian Andes, where a compassionate father aids oppressed indigenous villagers amid the shadows of the ancient Inca empire.
Level C1HistoricalMalaeska: The Indian Wife of the White HunterIn a remote clearing by the Hudson River, settlers and Native Americans live cautiously side by side amid the dense wilderness.
Level C1HistoricalMaitre CorneliusIn the shadowed cathedral of 1479 Tours, faith and passion intertwine as nobles and commoners alike seek solace and secret rendezvous beneath flickering candlelight.
Level C1HistoricalMain currents in American thoughtExplore the evolution of American ideas from Puritan New England through Jeffersonian agrarianism, tracing how European intellectual traditions intertwined with native aspirations…
Level C1HistoricalMain Street: (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")Step back through time on a mysterious Main Street, where ancient forests and indigenous rulers meet the dawn of a new civilization, revealing the layered history beneath a seeming…
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 6. Young GermanyPolitical idealism clashes with reactionary forces in post-Napoleonic Germany, where hopes for unification and freedom are dashed by conservative powers determined to restore old o…