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 C1AdventureGolden Face: A Tale of the Wild WestIn the icy wilderness of the Black Hills, two seasoned scouts brace themselves against a bitter blizzard and the eerie sounds of the wild, while tension mounts over mysterious war-…
Level B2HistoricalGolden Deeds: Stories from HistoryBrave heroes stand against overwhelming odds to protect their cities and loved ones, from a lone Roman defending a vital bridge to a Swiss archer defying a tyrant’s cruel test.
Level C1AdventureGold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail: Being the Adventures of Two New England Boys in Alaska and the Northwest TerritoryTwo New England boys embark on a daring journey along the Dalton Trail, braving the Alaskan wilderness in search of gold and adventure.
Level C1AdventureGold, Gold, in Cariboo! A Story of Adventure in British ColumbiaIn 1862 British Columbia, the sleepy town of Victoria awakens to a fresh gold rush as miners and dreamers prepare to brave the rugged Cariboo region, chasing fortune amid stunning…
Level C1HistoricalGold and glory; or, Wild ways of other days, a tale of early American discoveryIn 1485 Aragon, noblemen grapple with the ruthless new Inquisition imposed by King Ferdinand, shattering centuries of freedom and justice.
Level B2AdventureGold Seekers of '49In 1849, Charley Adams and his father embark on a perilous journey across the Isthmus of Panama to California’s gold fields, facing adventure, fortune, and hardship amid the bustli…
Level C1AdventureGoldAmid the feverish excitement of the 1849 California Gold Rush, a group of hopeful adventurers wrestles with dreams, doubts, and the harsh realities of fortune hunting, set against…
Level B2HistoricalGoing WestA spirited broker with a family legacy of soldiers faces the call to war, torn between his burgeoning career, a controversial engagement, and the duty ingrained in generations befo…
Level C1HistoricalGoethe's literary essaysDive into the profound reflections of a master critic who explores art, poetry, and life with unmatched insight, revealing the eternal struggle for meaning and freedom through time…
Level B2HistoricalGoethe and Schiller: An Historical RomanceIn the quiet streets of Mannheim, a restless poet defies the cold and the watchful night, caught between harsh reality and the fiery passion of creation.
Level B2HistoricalGodfrey Marten, UndergraduateAn earnest young man arrives at Oxford, armed with a modest allowance and high hopes, only to face the humbling realities of college life, social awkwardness, and the challenge of…
Level C1HistoricalGod's PlaythingsIn the turbulent aftermath of the Duke of Monmouth's failed rebellion, a loyal secretary unravels a haunting secret that could reshape the fate of a doomed prince and the ruthless…
Level C1HistoricalGod and the KingAmid the opulent intrigues of Whitehall Palace in 1688, a troubled king faces unrest as London erupts against disloyal prelates, while cunning courtiers plot beneath the surface—ca…
Level C1GothicGlenarvon, Volume 3 (of 3)Torn between love and duty, Calantha flees her past to find refuge—and confronts the agonizing ties that bind her to Glenarvon.
Level C1GothicGlenarvon, Volume 2 (of 3)Amidst political unrest and personal turmoil, Lady Calantha returns to a world where loyalties clash and dangerous passions ignite, centered around the enigmatic and divisive figur…
Level C1GothicGlenarvon, Volume 1 (of 3)In a land shadowed by loss and mystery, a wandering visionary returns with his young daughter seeking refuge under the care of an abbess, while dark omens hang over the noble house…
Level C1RomanceGlen's CreekIn the early 1800s Kentucky wilderness, a determined family leaves their Virginia home to face frontier dangers and forge a new life amid forests, Indian threats, and the birth of…
Level C1HistoricalGleaner TalesAmid the turbulent backdrop of 1813 Montreal, a detachment of soldiers prepares to escort a crucial ammunition train through contested lands, facing the looming threat of invasion…
Level C1HistoricalGladstonian GhostsIn a sharp critique of early 20th-century British politics, this essay dissects the clash between idealistic reforms and entrenched party interests, revealing the complex interplay…
Level C1RomanceGiven in MarriageIn the lush hills of Southern India, two planter cousins navigate the mysteries of gold rumors and estate life until a lost stranger arrives, setting in motion unexpected encounter…
Level C1HistoricalGiles Corey, Yeoman: A PlayIn a tense Salem Village home, whispers of witchcraft and eerie noises stir fear among family and friends, as suspicion and superstition threaten to unravel their lives.
Level B2AdventureGil the Gunner: The Youngest Officer in the EastA hot-headed cad clashes with classmates and authority at a strict military academy, struggling with isolation and a fierce temper as he strives to prove himself worthy of command.
Level C1HistoricalGideon's Band: A Tale of the MississippiAmid the bustling steamboat levee of New Orleans in 1852, diverse characters converge around the elegant new riverboat Votaress, poised for its maiden upriver voyage to Louisville,…
Level C1HistoricalGibbonBorn into frailty and loss, a young Edward Gibbon battles illness and isolation while cultivating an early passion for history, setting the stage for a life marked by resilience an…
Level C1HistoricalGiants in the earthNorwegian settlers face the brutal realities of prairie life as homesickness and hardship test their endurance and spirit.
Level C1HistoricalGiant Hours with Poet PreachersExplore the stirring call for a new social order where Christian ideals transform society, weaving brotherhood and justice into the fabric of industry and civilization through the…
Level C1HistoricalGerminie LacerteuxIn 19th-century Paris, a stark and unflinching look at the hidden lives of the working poor unfolds, exposing raw human suffering and resilience far from the glittering salons of h…
Level C1HistoricalGermania and AgricolaExplore the detailed accounts of Roman-era Germany and the military career of Agricola, enriched with scholarly insights into language, history, and culture, offering a rigorous ye…
Level C1AdventureGerald Fitzgerald, the Chevalier: A NovelIn the shadow of ancient Rome’s ruins, a destitute alley known as Thieves’ Corner hides the proud descendants of a fallen empire, living on the edge of survival and legacy.
Level C1HistoricalGeorge LeatrimA stern clergyman’s zealous efforts to reform a wayward parish reveal the clash between harsh judgment and tender faith, while the story of his beloved son unfolds amid trials that…
Level C1HistoricalGeorge Du Maurier, the Satirist of the VictoriansExplore the sharp wit and keen observations of a Victorian satirist who captures the clash between old aristocracy and rising mercantile power through art and imaginary conversatio…
Level C1HistoricalGeorge Borrow's Second Tour in WalesJourney through the rugged landscapes and quaint villages of South Wales in 1857, as a determined traveler navigates uncharted routes, local inns, and the challenges of deciphering…
Level C1HistoricalGeorge Borrow in East AngliaExplore the tranquil beauty and rich heritage of East Anglia through the life and times of George Borrow, whose deep connection to the land captures a fading era of horse-drawn jou…
Level B2HistoricalGeoffrey the LollardIn a shadowed forest, secret followers of a forbidden faith gather underground, risking all for their beliefs.
Level C1HistoricalGeneral Nelson's ScoutIn the divided heart of Kentucky during the Civil War, two young cousins face a fierce struggle of loyalty and belief as their state teeters between neutrality and conflict.
Level C1AdventureGeneral Crook and the Fighting Apaches: Treating Also of the Part Borne by Jimmie Dunn in the days, 1871-1886, When With Soldiers and Pack-trains and Indian Scouts, but Employing the Stronger Weapons of Kindness, Firmness and Honesty, the Gray Fox Worked Hard to the End That the White Men and the Red Men in the Southwest as in the Northwest Might Better Understand One AnotherFollow General Crook, the "Gray Fox," as he leads soldiers and Indian scouts through the rugged Southwest, using kindness and honesty to bridge the divide between white settlers an…
Level C1HistoricalGaut Gurley; Or, the Trappers of Umbagog: A Tale of Border LifeIn a turbulent borderland where city vices clash with wilderness virtues, a merchant turned trapper faces smuggling, gambling, and betrayal.
Level C1HistoricalGaston de Latour; an unfinished romanceIn the heart of La Beauce, the Latour family’s intertwined manors symbolize centuries of loyalty and human connection, as generations gather for a momentous day that binds past mem…
Level C1GothicGaston de Blondeville, vol. 1 of 4Amidst a calm life of domesticity, a mysterious author weaves tales that chill the blood and captivate the imagination, revealing a world where ancient lineage and quiet strength u…
Level C1HistoricalGaspar RuizAmidst the brutal chaos of South America's fight for independence, Gaspar Ruiz, a simple soldier mistaken for a deserter, faces a harrowing struggle to survive and prove his loyalt…
Level C1HistoricalGarrick's PupilIn 18th-century London, a young woman and her companion enter the studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds, the famed painter known for his striking portraits and eccentric methods.
Level C1HistoricalGalen: On the Natural FacultiesExplore the foundations of ancient Greek medicine as this work delves into the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen, revealing the origins of healing arts, clinical observation, and…
Level C1HistoricalGabrielle de BergeracIn the shadow of the French Revolution, a faded portrait sparks a quest to uncover the life of Gabrielle de Bergerac, a woman of gentle strength and tragic fate.
Level C1HistoricalGabriel: A Story of the Jews in PragueIn 1620 Prague's Jewish quarter, a striking young Talmud student arrives seeking a quiet place to study amid bustling markets and lively streets.
Level B2HistoricalGabriel and the Hour BookIn a quiet medieval abbey, young Gabriel serves as a color grinder for monks who painstakingly illuminate sacred manuscripts by hand.
Level B2HistoricalGabriel Tolliver: A Story of ReconstructionA man returns to Shady Dale, his childhood home, inviting his skeptical wife to discover its true spirit and the enduring bonds of community during Reconstruction.
Level C1AdventureGabriel ConroyTrapped by relentless snow in the California Sierras, a desperate party of emigrants leaves a haunting plea for help carved into the wilderness.
Level C1HistoricalFénelon: The MysticExplore the life of a noble-born mystic whose radiant devotion and profound intellect illuminate the pursuit of Christian perfection amid the glitter of courtly life, blending humi…