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 C1HistoricalBricks Without Straw: A NovelIn a post-Civil War South, a freedman reflects on the tangled legacy of names and freedom, revealing the struggles and hopes of those emerging from bondage.
Level C1HistoricalBrian Fitz-Count: A Story of Wallingford Castle and Dorchester AbbeyAmid the looming shadows of Wallingford Castle in 1139, Brian Fitz-Count, a formidable Norman lord and royal favorite, wrestles with dark deeds and a secret tied to noble birth, re…
Level B2AdventureBrave Tom; Or, The Battle That WonIn a quiet Pennsylvania village, young Tom Gordon's anticipation for the circus is shattered by sudden illness and a mysterious, urgent panic sweeping through Briggsville—an advent…
Level C1AdventureBrave Old Salt; or, Life on the Quarter Deck: A Story of the Great RebellionAmid the turmoil of the Great Rebellion, a young naval officer rises through the ranks, navigating duty, honor, and personal aspirations aboard the quarter deck.
Level B2HistoricalBrave Bessie WestlandIn a time of fierce Quaker persecution, young Bessie Westland hides with her sisters in a cellar as their parents face imprisonment for their faith.
Level B2AdventureBrandon of the EngineersIn the heat of a tense military campaign, Lieutenant Richard Brandon commands a daring engineering feat, constructing a crucial pontoon bridge under pressure.
Level C1AdventureBoys of the Light Brigade: A Story of Spain and the Peninsular WarAmid the turmoil of the Peninsular War, a young soldier joins the legendary Light Brigade as they face overwhelming French forces, enduring grueling marches and fierce battles acro…
Level C1HistoricalBoyhoodA young boy embarks on a hopeful journey away from the shadows of recent loss, encountering the vibrant awakening of spring and the lively world beyond his home.
Level B2HistoricalBoycotted, and Other StoriesA student at Draven’s school faces isolation and confusion after his close friend Browne is suddenly expelled, casting a shadow over their once lively term.
Level C1HistoricalBouvard and Pécuchet: A Tragi-comic Novel of Bourgeois Life, part 2Two clerks, Bouvard and Pécuchet, embark on a quest for spiritual and moral enlightenment, grappling with faith, virtue, and the complexities of religious life amid their earnest b…
Level C1HistoricalBouvard and Pécuchet: A Tragi-comic Novel of Bourgeois Life, part 1Two clerks, bored with city life and haunted by memories, meet on a scorching Parisian boulevard and find solace in shared conversation about politics, women, and society.
Level B2HistoricalBound to Rise; Or, Up the LadderA poor farming family faces hardship when their only cow falls ill, threatening their meager livelihood.
Level C1HistoricalBothwell; or, The Days of Mary Queen of Scots, Volume 3 (of 3)Amidst shadows and whispered conspiracies, a doomed young king lies vulnerable in his chamber while masked men plot treachery within the dim halls of Scotland's palace.
Level C1RomanceBothwell; or, The Days of Mary Queen of Scots, Volume 2 (of 3)Amid courtly intrigue and shifting loyalties, the dashing Earl of Bothwell pledges fierce allegiance to Queen Mary, navigating love, power, and rivalry in turbulent Scotland.
Level C1RomanceBothwell; or, The Days of Mary Queen of Scots, Volume 1 (of 3)In the turbulent autumn of 1566, amid Norway's stormy seas and the shadow of political unrest, the fate of Mary Queen of Scots intertwines with daring voyages, secret rivalries, an…
Level C1AdventureBoth Sides the Border: A Tale of Hotspur and GlendowerAmid fierce border warfare and shifting alliances, a young lad keeps watch over a rugged fortalice as perilous raids threaten his family’s hold.
Level C1HistoricalBoswelliana: The Commonplace Book of James Boswell, with a Memoir and AnnotationsDive into the personal reflections and historical insights of a renowned 18th-century figure, capturing the essence of his era through memoirs, annotations, and a rich compilation…
Level C1HistoricalBoscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651In the turmoil following the Battle of Worcester, King Charles II embarks on a perilous escape, relying on loyal subjects and secret hideouts like the famed Royal Oak.
Level C1AdventureBorn to Wander: A Boy's Book of Nomadic AdventuresIn a lush, untamed garden where nature thrives in harmony, a young girl named Effie discovers the delicate beauty and hidden adventures of the wild flora and fauna around Grayling…
Level C1HistoricalBorgia: A Period PlayIntrigue and power collide within the Vatican's shadowed halls as the Borgia family navigates loyalty, ambition, and betrayal.
Level C1HistoricalBorderlandFour boys spend a golden summer exploring a garden by the river Tees, their childhood marked by friendship, rivalry, and the weight of old family legacies.
Level C1HistoricalBooks and menExplore the evolution of childhood discipline and education from harsh past practices to modern leniency, revealing how shifting social attitudes shape the upbringing of children a…
Level C1HistoricalBooks and authorsExplore the vibrant world of literary criticism that blends philosophy and biography to reveal the genius behind great authors.
Level C1HistoricalBooks and Persons; Being Comments on a Past Epoch, 1908-1911Explore a vivid snapshot of early 20th-century literary life through candid essays and sharp critiques penned from Paris to London, revealing the wit and insight behind celebrated…
Level C1HistoricalBooks and Habits, from the Lectures of Lafcadio HearnExplore the Western world through the eyes of Japanese students as these lectures unravel the exotic and often puzzling customs of Western civilization, especially its unique views…
Level C1HistoricalBooks and Characters, French & EnglishExplore the fierce rivalry between French and English literary tastes as this work delves into the contrasting receptions of Racine and Shakespeare, unraveling national biases and…
Level B2AdventureBonnie Prince Charlie : a Tale of Fontenoy and CullodenAmid the turmoil of 18th-century Scotland, a prodigal brother returns with secrets and a mysterious child, sparking tales of battles, loyalty, and daring adventures from Fontenoy t…
Level C1HistoricalBonaventure: A Prose Pastoral of Acadian LouisianaIn the vast prairies of Acadian Louisiana, an influential senator aids a struggling widow and her spirited son, Bonaventure, weaving a tale of resilience and identity amid a landsc…
Level B2AdventureBonanza: A story of the Gold TrailIn the rugged West, a daring pony express rider races against time across hostile deserts and wild frontiers, embodying grit and courage on a perilous mail route that shapes a nati…
Level C1HistoricalBoer War LyricsExplore poignant verses born amid the turmoil of the Boer War, capturing the clash between moral right and overwhelming might in a struggle that reshaped nations and tested human c…
Level B2AdventureBlue Jackets: The Log of the TeaserThree young midshipmen aboard the gunboat Teaser navigate strict discipline and cultural tensions as they venture ashore into a bustling foreign city, where every step risks sparki…
Level B2AdventureBlown to Bits; or, The Lonely Man of RakataAmid the calm before a violent volcanic eruption near the Malay Archipelago, a young first mate struggles to prove himself at sea under his stern captain father’s watchful eye, cau…
Level C1RomanceBlowing weatherReturning to his childhood streets turned bustling trade hub, a young man navigates the docks and warehouses to meet a mysterious merchant tied to distant ports and rare goods.
Level C1RomanceBlood Royal: A NovelIn a quaint English town, a new governess arrives, sparking quiet intrigue among its residents.
Level C1HistoricalBlanche: The Maid of LilleIn a rugged, timeless landscape of castles and legends, a disfigured veteran returns to his ancestral home where he meets Blanche, the Duke’s young daughter, whose boundless love a…
Level C1MysteryBlair of BalaclavaAmid the chaos and heroism of the Crimean War, brave soldiers confront mismanagement and harsh conditions to prove their valor in battles like Balaclava and Inkermann, revealing th…
Level C1RomanceBlackbeard; Or, The Pirate of Roanoke.Amid the enchanting yet isolated beauty of Trinidad Island, a noble party enjoys nature’s pure splendor—until the notorious pirate Blackbeard suddenly appears, threatening their pe…
Level B2HorrorBlack magicIn a sunlit Flemish house filled with mysterious relics and shadows of decay, a solitary young man meticulously gilds a wooden devil, setting green glass eyes that seem to awaken s…
Level C1FantasyBlack Nick, the hermit of the hills; or, The expiated crime: A story of Burgoyne's surrenderIn a shadowed forest during a turbulent war, a mysterious hermit known as Black Nick emerges from darkness to confront secret missions, fierce warriors, and ominous threats lurking…
Level B2AdventureBlack IvoryA young supercargo faces disaster when the English brig ‘Aurora’ springs a leak off Africa’s east coast, threatening to sink near a treacherous shore.
Level C1AdventureBlack Heart and White Heart: A Zulu IdyllCaught between colonial ambitions and indigenous power, a trader with a mysterious past navigates the perilous world of Zululand during King Cetywayo’s reign, where loyalty, danger…
Level B2HistoricalBlack Beauty, Young Folks' EditionBorn into a peaceful meadow and raised with gentle care, a young horse learns the meaning of kindness and courage through early lessons and the thrilling sight of a hunt nearby.
Level B2HistoricalBlack BeautyBorn into kindness and raised with gentle care, a spirited young horse embarks on a journey through fields, hunts, and the challenges of growing up.
Level C1HistoricalBits from Blinkbonny; or, Bell o' the ManseExperience the heartfelt rhythms of Scottish village life between 1841 and 1851, as personal stories unfold amidst the turmoil of the Disruption of 1843, revealing the traditions,…
Level C1HistoricalBirds in Town & VillageAmid the budding spring, a nature lover finds solace in the lively birdlife of St.
Level C1HistoricalBirds and Poets : with Other PapersExplore the poetic and natural worlds intertwined as vivid bird imagery ignites the imagination, revealing how the spirit of birds inspires timeless poetry and the human soul’s yea…
Level C1HistoricalBilly BuddAmid the turbulent seas of 1797, a strikingly handsome and strong sailor captivates his shipmates and commands respect both ashore and afloat, embodying natural regality and resili…
Level B2HistoricalBig and Little Sisters: A Story of an Indian Mission SchoolIn a chilly Dakota mission school, two Sioux girls navigate the challenges of chores, school, and holiday preparations, revealing their hopes, rivalries, and the quiet strength fou…