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 C1AdventureCamp and Trail: A Story of the Maine WoodsTwo young hunters glide silently over a moonlit pond in northern Maine, using a special lantern to lure deer in a thrilling night adventure that celebrates respect for wildlife and…
Level C1RomanceCameron of LochielA young Scottish exile navigates love and loyalty amid the fading traditions and shifting allegiances of old French Canada, where patriotism, family devotion, and cultural pride sh…
Level C1HistoricalCambridge Neighbors (from Literary Friends and Acquaintance)In a vibrant Cambridge community, the refined scholar Francis J.
Level C1HistoricalCallista : a Tale of the Third CenturyIn the lush landscapes of third-century Roman Africa, a tale unfolds exploring the delicate tensions and heartfelt bonds between Christians and heathens, capturing the spiritual st…
Level C1HistoricalCallias: A Tale of the Fall of AthensAmid Athens' fading glory and war's toll, a new play unfolds at the theater, where gods Bacchus and Hercules embark on a journey to the underworld to retrieve the lost spirit of tr…
Level C1HistoricalCaleb FieldIn the turbulent era of the Stuart reign, faith and loyalty clash as Presbyterians navigate political upheaval and religious strife.
Level C1HistoricalCalderon the Courtier, a TaleIn the treacherous court of Philip III, an ambitious upstart wields power through ruthless religious persecution and cunning intrigue, while rival factions vie for control in a dea…
Level C1AdventureCalavar; or, The Knight of The Conquest, A Romance of MexicoAmid the sweeping backdrop of Mexico’s conquest, a fearless knight navigates treacherous mountains and fierce battles, weaving a tale of valor and ambition during the pivotal campa…
Level C1AdventureCaesar DiesAmidst the opulent, volatile city of Antioch under Emperor Commodus, power, pleasure, and peril intertwine as Roman authority clashes with local pride, and secrets lurk beneath the…
Level B2AdventureCadet Days: A Story of West PointAn adventurous young frontier boy, raised among Native tribes and rugged soldiers, dreams of earning a coveted appointment to West Point despite fierce competition and his unconven…
Level C1HistoricalC. Sallusti Crispi De Bello Catilinario Et JugurthinoIn a Rome torn by fierce political rivalry between aristocrats and populists, a tribune navigates treacherous alliances, betrayal, and civil war, revealing the corruption and power…
Level C1HistoricalByron: The Last PhaseFollow the dramatic transformation of a notorious poet whose final years in Greece reveal a complex character far removed from his earlier reputation.
Level C1HistoricalBy-paths in Hebraic booklandExplore the lesser-known paths of Hebraic literature, where hidden gems reveal the rich, complex spirit of Jewish culture beyond the Bible and Talmud.
Level C1AdventureBy order of the companyIn a tense Virginian frontier where uneasy peace with native tribes teeters on the edge of rebellion, a wary settler navigates suspicion, survival, and loyalty amid ominous portent…
Level C1AdventureBy far EuphratesA young English boy ventures into the harsh, desolate lands near the ancient Euphrates, seeking to witness the legendary river that once watered Eden.
Level C1HistoricalBy What Authority?In a quiet English village during Elizabethan unrest, the Maxwell family grapples with fierce religious divisions that mirror the turbulent politics of the era.
Level C2HistoricalBy Veldt and KopjeAmid Africa's ancient landscapes and turbulent history, a magistrate confronts the grim reality of leprosy's spread, enforcing harsh laws in a land where tradition, disease, and co…
Level C1HistoricalBy Shore and SedgeIn a bleak 1856 California valley, hundreds gather in a harsh camp for a fervent religious revival, seeking solace amid poverty, illness, and despair.
Level B2AdventureBy Sheer Pluck: A Tale of the Ashanti WarAmid schoolyard cricket matches and the keen eyes of a nature lover, a young boy's adventure begins to unfold, blending youthful sportsmanship with the challenges and unexpected tr…
Level B2AdventureBy Right of Conquest; Or, With Cortez in MexicoA daring English captain and his son navigate the perilous seas in the early 1500s, caught between emerging trade ambitions and the mighty Spanish conquest of Mexico.
Level B2AdventureBy Pike and Dyke: a Tale of the Rise of the Dutch RepublicIn a world torn by religious persecution and war, a young hero grows amidst the fierce struggle of the Dutch people for freedom and faith against the mighty Spanish empire, where c…
Level C1RomanceBy Neva's watersAt a Berlin state ball in 1801, English Viscount Wilfrid Courtenay, a chivalrous adventurer and artist, reunites with his Russian friend Prince Ouvaroff amid rising political tensi…
Level C1AdventureBy England's Aid; or, the Freeing of the Netherlands (1585-1604)As England transitions from cautious supporter to active ally, witness the dramatic shift in a fierce struggle for Dutch independence against Spain’s might, with daring battles at…
Level B2AdventureBy Conduct and Courage: A Story of the Days of NelsonAn orphaned boy with a mysterious past finds refuge with a kind fisherman in a bleak village, where childhood innocence clashes with harsh realities, setting the stage for a tale o…
Level C1HistoricalBushyAmid the rugged Rockies, a young girl named Bushy embarks on a journey with her father after family tragedy upends their life in Iowa.
Level C1AdventureBurlIn a turbulent Kentucky frontier fraught with Indian raids and fierce survival, settlers navigate a harsh wilderness where law and safety are scarce.
Level C1HistoricalBunyanRaised in humble surroundings and haunted by vivid religious visions, a young boy wrestles with his own flaws and fears in a world where every event is seen as a battle between goo…
Level C1HistoricalBungay Castle: A Novel. v. 1/2Amid the haunting ruins of Bungay Castle, where legends of ghostly warriors and lost loves linger, a tale unfolds blending romance, history, and imagination to revive the vanished…
Level B2AdventureBuffalo Bill, the border kingExperience the thrilling exploits of Buffalo Bill, a legendary scout and cowboy navigating the dangers of the Wild West, from deadly border conflicts to daring buffalo hunts and en…
Level B2AdventureBuffalo Bill's boy buglerIn a rugged Western town torn by fierce cattlemen-sheepmen conflicts, a notorious outlaw known as Red Dick faces trial amid rising tensions and divided loyalties.
Level B2AdventureBuffalo Bill's best betIn the rugged West, a daring gambler stakes everything—his life, his diamonds, and his wits—amid tense campfires and wild plains, where danger and high stakes collide.
Level B2AdventureBuffalo Bill and the Overland Trail: Being the story of how boy and man worked hard and played hard to blaze the white trail, by wagon train, stage coach and pony express, across the great plains and the mountains beyond, that the American republic might expand and flourishFollow the daring adventures of a boy who grows into the legendary Buffalo Bill, braving the wild plains, Indian battles, and treacherous trails to open the American West by wagon,…
Level B2AdventureBuffalo Bill among the SiouxAmid rising tensions and looming war between settlers and Sioux tribes, a daring scout races across dangerous Kansas territory carrying vital military dispatches.
Level C1AdventureBuckskin Mose: Or, Life From the Lakes to the Pacific, as Actor, Circus-Rider, Detective, Ranger, Gold-Digger, Indian Scout, and Guide.Journey from the lakes to the Pacific unfolds through the eyes of a restless adventurer—actor, scout, gold-digger, and guide—who reveals the harsh realities of frontier life and th…
Level C1HistoricalBrowning as a Philosophical and Religious TeacherExplore the profound moral and religious philosophy woven through Browning’s poetry, where poetic art meets deep ethical inquiry and idealistic faith, inviting readers to consider…
Level C1HistoricalBrowning and the Dramatic MonologueExplore the challenges of understanding Browning’s innovative dramatic monologues, where traditional storytelling gives way to deep psychological insight and complex human motives,…
Level C1HistoricalBrowning and His CenturyExplore the intense 19th-century clash between mind and spirit as evolving scientific knowledge challenges inherited religious and moral traditions, revealing a profound struggle s…
Level B2AdventureBrown of Moukden: A Story of the Russo-Japanese WarAmid the vibrant streets of Moukden during the Russo-Japanese War, Ivan Brown navigates a world of clashing cultures, military tension, and personal adventure.
Level C1HistoricalBrought ForwardIn the grimy industrial heart of Glasgow, where smoky forges blaze and men trudge through fog, a vivid narrative unfolds from the rugged workshops to the wild American prairies, re…
Level B2HistoricalBrothers: The True History of a Fight Against OddsIn a grand house brimming with secrets and society’s expectations, two brothers navigate their contrasting paths through love, honor, and adversity.
Level B2AdventureBrothers of Peril: A Story of old NewfoundlandAmid the harsh wilderness of old Newfoundland, rival fishermen, merchants, and native tribes vie for control of the lucrative fishing grounds, where greed and survival collide in a…
Level C1HistoricalBrother JonathanIn Revolutionary War-era Connecticut, a spirited Irish mariner arrives in a town buzzing with secret missions and historic figures, where Governor Jonathan Trumbull’s farmhouse ser…
Level B2HistoricalBrother Against Brother; or, The Tompkins Mystery.: A Story of the Great American Rebellion.Amid thunderous skies and rugged Virginia landscapes, a weary planter named George Tompkins rides a stagecoach haunted by a mysterious, urgent command to search—setting the stage f…
Level C1HistoricalBrother Against Brother; Or, The War on the BorderTensions rise as two neighboring families in a Border State are divided by loyalty and secession, igniting violent clashes and sparking a fight for control over military supplies a…
Level B2HistoricalBristol Bells: A Story of the Eighteenth CenturyIn 18th-century Bristol, spirited Bryda yearns to escape her stifling farm life and seize new opportunities, while confronting family tensions and the harsh realities of rural exis…
Level C1HistoricalBrigadier Frederick; and, The Dean's WatchIn a richly detailed Alsatian setting, a jovial middle-aged bachelor discovers the unexpected power of love amidst the rhythms of provincial life, where camaraderie, nature, and si…
Level C1HistoricalBrief Reflections relative to the Emigrant French ClergyAs political chaos sweeps France, displaced clergy face destitution and despair.
Level C1HistoricalBrief History of English and American LiteratureExplore the evolution of English and American literature through towering figures and transformative periods, uncovering how their works reflect and shape religious, social, and po…