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 C1HistoricalHarry MuirIn the bustling heart of Glasgow, a sharp-witted clerk named Harry Muir navigates social divides and office camaraderie, challenging the rigid class distinctions of 19th-century Sc…
Level B2AdventureHarry Milvaine; Or, The Wanderings of a Wayward BoyA restless boy with a vivid imagination turns rainy days into daring naval battles and forest adventures alongside his loyal dog, exploring the wild Scottish pine woods and the rus…
Level C1HistoricalHarriet MartineauExplore the intimate life and enduring legacy of a pioneering thinker through fresh insights, personal letters, and untold stories spanning her later years, revealing the vibrant m…
Level C1HistoricalHarold's Bride: A TaleIn colonial India, young missionaries struggle to build a home and adapt to a harsh new life amidst cultural clashes and delays.
Level C1RomanceHarold : the Last of the Saxon Kings — CompleteAmid the tumultuous Norman Invasion, a stirring historical romance unfolds, revealing the last days of the Saxon monarchy through the passionate tale of Harold and Edith, where anc…
Level B2HistoricalHarebell's friendA lonely child named Harebell returns to England after losing her parents, only to face an uncertain future under the care of a stern aunt.
Level C1AdventureHardscrabble; or, the fall of Chicago: a tale of Indian warfareAmidst the rugged wilderness near early 19th-century Chicago, a determined frontiersman and his companions face the looming threats of Indian warfare, where survival hinges on cour…
Level C1HistoricalHansford: A Tale of Bacon's RebellionIn the turbulent era of Bacon's Rebellion, a steadfast Loyalist family in Virginia navigates political upheaval and personal sacrifice.
Level C1HistoricalHans of Iceland, Vol. 2 of 2; The Last Day of a CondemnedA weary regiment marches through Norway's rugged passes, where an old captain mourns the loss of his faithful dog amid looming battles.
Level B2HistoricalHans Brinker; Or, The Silver SkatesIn a vivid journey through 19th-century Holland, young Hans Brinker and his sister Gretel navigate everyday life, Dutch traditions, and the challenges of a plucky little country th…
Level B2HistoricalHanover; Or The Persecution of the Lowly: A Story of the Wilmington Massacre.Tensions escalate in Wilmington as organized white mobs forcibly expel Black residents and political opponents, enforcing a brutal new order.
Level C1AdventureHannibal's daughterIn the shadow of Carthage's ancient power, a formidable general plots revenge against Rome, his fierce legacy woven with romance and war.
Level C1FantasyHanit the EnchantressIn ancient Egypt, a powerful enemy has desecrated the tomb of Menna, destroying the magic meant to secure his eternal peace.
Level C1HistoricalHaniaAn aging servant, steeped in memories of Napoleonic wars, fiercely guards household order while imparting old military discipline to the children he oversees.
Level C1HistoricalHalleck's New English LiteratureExplore the rich evolution of English literature from its earliest roots to the vibrant twentieth century, uncovering how historical movements and social changes shaped the voices…
Level C1HistoricalHalf a Life-Time AgoIn a remote Westmoreland dale, Susan Dixon, a solitary and resolute farmer, guards the secrets of her ancestral home and her guarded past.
Level C1AdventureHair-Breadth Escapes: The Adventures of Three Boys in South AfricaThree boys embark on a daring adventure aboard His Majesty’s ship Hooghly, navigating treacherous seas and facing unexpected betrayals as they journey toward South Africa in the ea…
Level C1HistoricalHagarA curious twelve-year-old girl aboard a fading canal packet-boat questions forbidden ideas and observes the shifting world around her, from convicts on the railroad to genteel soci…
Level C1RomanceGómez Arias: Or, The Moors of the Alpujarras, A Spanish Historical Romance.In the shadow of Granada's snowy Sierra Nevada, a tale unfolds where Moorish and Christian worlds clash amidst ambition and romance.
Level C1HistoricalGycia: A Tragedy in Five ActsIn a realm torn by war and political strife, a king fears for his son's future as rival republics and invading forces threaten their land, while a desperate plan to unite through m…
Level C1AdventureGuy Rivers: A Tale of GeorgiaAmid the barren hills of Cherokee lands in Georgia, a lone traveler ventures into a harsh wilderness hiding untapped gold beneath its rugged surface, where nature’s bleakness masks…
Level C1HistoricalGuy Mannering, Or, the Astrologer — CompleteAn enigmatic astrologer predicts a perilous fate for a newborn heir, urging his parents to shield him from sin and temptation until his twenty-first birthday—when the true test of…
Level C1HistoricalGuy ManneringA mysterious astrologer predicts a perilous fate for a newborn heir, urging his parents to shield him from worldly temptations until his twenty-first birthday—when his destiny will…
Level C1RomanceGuy Fawkes; or, The Gunpowder Treason: An Historical RomanceAmid harsh persecution of Catholics in early 17th-century England, a secretive conspiracy unfolds, weaving loyalty, ambition, and fanaticism into a tense historical romance.
Level B2HistoricalGuy FalconerIn a world of debts and family secrets, a critical stroke of the pen sets the fate of the Old Moat House and its inhabitants in motion.
Level C1HistoricalGustavus Vasa: and other poemsA young poet ambitiously chronicles the rise of Gustavus Vasa, capturing the fervor and patriotism of a historic rebellion.
Level B2HistoricalGunsight Pass: How Oil Came to the Cattle Country and Brought a New WestIn a rugged, sun-scorched frontier where survival demands toughness, young David Sanders returns to the cattle country with his remarkable pinto, sparking rivalry and revealing the…
Level B2AdventureGulf and Glacier; or, The Percivals in AlaskaA lively group of young travelers embarks on a thrilling summer expedition from Boston to Alaska, exploring rugged landscapes and forging new friendships aboard a cross-continental…
Level C1RomanceGuingamor, Lanval, Tyolet, Bisclaveret: Four lais rendered into English proseStep into a world where knights and fairies mingle at Arthur’s court, blending myth, history, and enchantment in tales of love, loyalty, and otherworldly realms that reveal the roo…
Level C1RomanceGudrunIn a kingdom where beauty and strength command respect, the proud Princess Gudrun spurns all suitors, igniting rivalries among kings determined to claim her hand—will love or war d…
Level C1HistoricalGudrid the Fair: A Tale of the Discovery of AmericaJourney to the dawn of America’s discovery through the intertwined lives of Gudrid, her husbands, and their hardships.
Level C1HistoricalGrisly Grisell; Or, The Laidly Lady of Whitburn: A Tale of the Wars of the RosesAmidst the turbulence of the Wars of the Roses, a terrible accident at the Manor-house of Amesbury leaves young Grisell Dacre gravely injured, unraveling a tense drama of blame, lo…
Level B2HistoricalGreyfriars BobbyIn the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, a small Skye terrier named Bobby navigates the bustling, historic Grassmarket, drawn by the daily boom of the time-gun and the rhythms of city li…
Level C1AdventureGrettir the Outlaw: A Story of IcelandIn the haunting midnight sun of Iceland's rugged north, a legendary outlaw is born amidst ancient sagas and wild landscapes.
Level C2HistoricalGreek tragedyExplore the origins and evolution of Greek tragedy, tracing its roots in Dionysian rituals and the innovations that shaped dramatic structure and lyrical form, revealing the soul o…![Cover of Great Poems of the World War by William Dunseath [Editor] Eaton](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/daf7qooe1ofc73dhc8ng.webp)
Level C1HistoricalGreat Poems of the World WarVoices rise from the chaos of the Great War—poetic echoes of heroism, hope, and heartbreak from soldiers and civilians alike.
Level B2HistoricalGrapes of wrathAmid the brutal realities of World War I, a battle-hardened officer draws from his daring front-line experiences to reveal the grit, danger, and determination of soldiers and civil…
Level C2HistoricalGrandmother's Story of Bunker Hill Battle, as She Saw it from the BelfryAn eighty-year-old grandmother recalls the harrowing sights and sounds of the Battle of Bunker Hill, as cannon fire roars and soldiers clash just beyond the river.
Level B2HistoricalGraham of ClaverhouseAmid the chaos of war and swirling loyalties, two young Scottish officers forge destinies intertwined by fate and conflict.
Level C1AdventureGrace O'Malley, Princess and PirateAmid the turbulent seas of 16th-century Ireland, a young Scot becomes entwined with the legendary Grace O'Malley, the fierce Pirate Princess whose wit, courage, and passions shape…
Level B2AdventureGrace Harlowe with the American Army on the RhineAmid the tense aftermath of war, Grace Harlowe navigates the uneasy march of the American Third Army to the Rhine, confronting strict superiors, uneasy alliances, and the lurking t…
Level C1HistoricalGowrie; or, the King's Plot.A gripping tale unfolds around the mysterious Gowrie Conspiracy, challenging the truth behind King James's darkest plot.
Level C1HistoricalGovernor Winthrop's Return to Boston: An Interview with a Great CharacterA visionary poem brings Governor Winthrop back to a transformed Boston, reflecting on the city's growth, the enduring church covenant he authored, and the spiritual legacy of the C…
Level C1HistoricalGossip in a LibraryStep into the intimate world of private libraries, where scattered books hold centuries of passion, ambition, and forgotten lives.
Level C1HistoricalGordon KeithAmid the grandeur of the Elphinstone plantation, young Gordon Keith inherits the weighty legacy of old Southern gentility, only to witness his world upended by war and loss.
Level C1HistoricalGoody Two-ShoesAn orphaned girl named Margery, known as Goody Two Shoes, rises from humble beginnings through kindness and perseverance in 18th-century England.
Level B2HistoricalGood Old AnnaAs war breaks out between England and Germany, Mrs.
Level C1HistoricalGolden Stars, and Other Verses Following "The Red Flower"Amid the turmoil of war, a devoted lover of peace channels righteous wrath and hope into stirring verses that reflect the struggle for liberty and the dream of lasting democracy.