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 B2HistoricalAt PlattsburgA young recruit embarks on his first military training at Plattsburg, grappling with the tension between his pacifist roots and the looming threat of war.
Level C1AdventureAt AgincourtAmidst the bitter feud ravaging France, a noble English household prepares to join the fray, bringing skilled archers and knights to a land torn by civil war.
Level B2AdventureAt Aboukir and Acre: A Story of Napoleon's Invasion of EgyptAs Napoleon's French fleet threatens Egypt, two young allies stand amid ancient forts and shifting loyalties, witnessing the clash of empires where naval power and desert cavalry c…
Level C1HistoricalAstronomical Lore in ChaucerExplore the medieval world where celestial movements govern daily life and fate, intertwining astronomy and astrology in poetry.
Level C1AdventureAstoria; Or, Anecdotes of an Enterprise Beyond the Rocky MountainsJourney beyond the Rockies unfolds as fur traders and explorers brave treacherous wilderness, negotiate with Native tribes, and establish the ambitious Astoria trading post, reveal…
Level C1HistoricalAspects and ImpressionsStep into the Victorian literary world through vivid impressions of George Eliot and her contemporaries, exploring the powerful influence and complex rivalries shaping English pros…
Level C1RomanceAspasiaIn ancient Athens, a captivatingly beautiful woman stirs awe, desire, and envy as she strides through the Agora, igniting silent tensions and unspoken conflicts.
Level B2AdventureAsoka's alibiIn the sweltering carnival season of a restless Indian border state, Quorn, the master of the mighty elephant Asoka, navigates a world of ancient customs, mad revelry, and simmerin…
Level C1HistoricalAshcliffe Hall: A tale of the last centuryIn an old English manor, two sisters navigate the expectations of their genteel world, while secrets and quiet tensions simmer beneath the genteel surface.
Level C1RomanceAscanioAmidst the splendor and intrigue of Francis I's French court, passionate rivalries and political schemes unfold as a young favorite rises to power, challenging queens and captivati…
Level B2RomanceAs We Sweep Through The DeepIn a time of pride and hardship, Jack Mackenzie sails away from England, leaving his family to face mounting debts and fading fortunes at the grand Grantley Hall.
Level C1HistoricalAs Others Saw Him: A Retrospect, A.D. 54In a vivid recounting from Jerusalem, a man with fiery zeal disrupts the Temple's commerce, revealing a complex figure torn between righteous fury and tender compassion.
Level C1RomanceArthurian Chronicles: Roman de BrutDive into a vivid retelling of Arthurian legend where history and chivalric romance intertwine, revealing noble knights and courtly valor through poetic chronicles that shaped medi…
Level C1AdventureArthur Brown, The Young CaptainA young man, rescued from death by the sea captain who once owed a debt to his late father, embarks on a journey of adventure and self-discovery amid the turbulent rise of American…
Level C1RomanceArthur Blane; or, The Hundred CuirassiersIn 17th-century Paris, a young Scottish swordsman navigates dark alleys and deadly intrigues with only his wits, a keen blade, and a fierce determination to survive amidst duels, p…
Level C1HistoricalArrows of the Chace, vol. 2/2: being a collection of scattered letters published chiefly in the daily newspapers 1840-1880Amidst 19th-century political turmoil, these letters reveal candid reflections on war, nationality, and faith, challenging Protestant stereotypes and portraying nuanced views of Au…
Level C1RomanceArrah Neil; or, Times of OldAmid the turmoil of the English Civil War, loyalties are tested as Sir John Hotham’s uncertain stance threatens the fate of Hull, while the brash Royalist soldier Barecolt stirs ad…
Level C1HistoricalAround Old Bethany: A Story of the Adventures of Robert and Mary DavisIn a newly settled Missouri town torn by denominational rivalry, Robert and Mary Davis embark on a heartfelt quest to uncover the true path of faith, comparing beliefs and seeking…
Level C1HistoricalArnold's TempterAs revolution brews in Philadelphia, influential aristocrats navigate a delicate balance between loyalty to the Crown and the fight for independence.
Level B2AdventureArmy Boys on the Firing Line; or, Holding Back the German DriveYoung American soldiers face a relentless German assault, testing their courage and skill in fierce close-quarters combat along the front lines.
Level B1AdventureArmy Boys on German Soil: Our Doughboys Quelling the MobsAmerican soldiers patrol a tense German city where hostility simmers beneath the surface, and threats escalate from uneasy glances to deadly gunfire.
Level B1AdventureArmy Boys marching into GermanyAmidst relentless German assaults, a small band of American soldiers fiercely holds their ground, preparing for a desperate bayonet charge that will decide their fate in a brutal,…
Level B2AdventureArmy Boys in France; or, From Training Camp to TrenchesAs war looms over America, a group of friends grapple with the reality of unpreparedness and the call to arms, facing the daunting challenge of transforming raw recruits into soldi…
Level B2HistoricalArius the Libyan: A Romance of the Primitive ChurchAmid the sunlit shores of ancient Cyrene, a land of beauty and intellect, a tale unfolds within a humble cross-shaped farmhouse, where faith, philosophy, and the turbulent birth of…
Level C1HistoricalAristophanesDive into the wild and witty world of Athenian comedy, where sharp political satire, bawdy humor, and vibrant spectacle collide to entertain and provoke a society at the height of…
Level C1HistoricalArethusaIn 1376 Constantinople, Venetian ex-soldier Carlo Zeno navigates a city divided by ruthless power struggles between Genoese rivals and the fragile Byzantine throne.
Level C1HistoricalAre these Things So? (1740) The Great Man's Answer to Are These things So: (1740)A fierce pamphlet war erupts in 1740, with anonymous verse and sharp political attacks targeting Robert Walpole's ministry.
Level B2HistoricalArchag, the Little ArmenianA young Armenian boy navigates life at a missionary school amid the backdrop of his people's harrowing struggles during and after the Great War.
Level C1HistoricalArachne — CompleteAmid the tranquil waters and mysterious islands of ancient Egypt, a young woman seeks prophecy and guidance as her family’s fate intertwines with secrets of piracy, power, and roya…
Level C1RomanceArabella Stuart: A Romance from English HistoryIn a turbulent era marked by ruthless ambition and shifting power, the tragic story of Arabella Stuart unfolds, revealing the clash of passion, politics, and betrayal within the ha…
Level C1HistoricalApu Ollantay: A Drama of the Time of the IncasSet during the reign of Inca Pachacuti, this drama unfolds the forbidden love between a noble chief and the Inca's daughter, weaving ancient Andean culture, dramatic tradition, and…
Level C2HistoricalAppreciations, with an Essay on StyleExplore the rich distinctions and poetic possibilities within prose and poetry, as this work delves into the art of literary style and criticism, challenging traditional boundaries…
Level C2HistoricalAntony and CleopatraA mighty Roman general, once fierce in battle, now dazzled and undone by his passionate love for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, faces the clash of duty and desire as political tides…
Level C1AdventureAntony Waymouth; Or, The Gentlemen AdventurersIn an age of exploration under Queen Elizabeth’s reign, two young gentlemen reunite in Plymouth, sparking tales of daring sea voyages and the thrilling promise of treasure and adve…
Level C1HistoricalAntonioA young monk newly ordained in war-torn Portugal grapples with doubt, duty, and desire for peace as his country emerges from years of conflict and civil strife.
Level C1HistoricalAntonina; Or, The Fall of RomeAmid the desolate Alps in 408 AD, as Gothic invaders carve a path toward Rome, a hidden cavern shelters secrets that capture the spirit of a crumbling empire on the brink of barbar…
Level C1HistoricalAnting-Anting Stories, and Other Strange Tales of the FilipinosIn a war-torn Philippine village, a mysterious native risks everything to retrieve a strange leather-bound book from a fallen comrade, revealing the power of the enigmatic anting-a…
Level C1HistoricalAntimachus of Colophon and the Position of Women in Greek Poetry: A fragment printed for the use of scholarsExplore the transformation in Greek poetry’s portrayal of love and women, tracing the shift from male-male affection in early works to the romantic ideal of male-female love in Ale…
Level C1HistoricalAnother SheafAfter the harrowing toll of war, a weary column of soldiers marches home through the dawn, their bodies broken but spirits longing for peace.
Level B2HistoricalAnnette, the Metis Spy: A Heroine of the N.W. RebellionOn the vast, untamed prairie, a young Metis maiden’s haunting song hides a brave resolve as she navigates love, danger, and rebellion.
Level B2HistoricalAnne's House of DreamsAnne Shirley, fresh from teaching and on the brink of marriage, returns to picturesque Avonlea where cherished friendships, the charm of old traditions, and the winds of modern cha…
Level B2HistoricalAnne of the IslandAs autumn ushers in change, Anne Shirley faces the bittersweet transition from childhood to adulthood, navigating friendships, farewells, and the uncertain promise of the future wh…
Level C1HistoricalAnne of Geierstein; Or, The Maiden of the Mist. Volume 2 (of 2)An English merchant’s journey through the harsh and unwelcoming inns of Alsace reveals a stark contrast between cultures, where hospitality is scarce and survival depends on grit.
Level C1AdventureAnne of Geierstein; Or, The Maiden of the Mist. Volume 1 (of 2)In a time of political intrigue and ancient grudges, a mysterious maiden emerges amidst the mist-shrouded Alps, weaving a tale of adventure, danger, and the clash of noble bloodlin…
Level B2HistoricalAnne of AvonleaA spirited young teacher in idyllic Avonlea dreams of inspiring her students to greatness, but her peaceful world is disrupted by a gruff new neighbor whose odd habits and sharp te…
Level C1HistoricalAnne FevershamIn Elizabethan England, a revered playwright contemplates the tragic fate of a young nobleman condemned for treason, revealing a world where art, politics, and danger entwine benea…
Level C1HistoricalAnne Bradstreet and Her TimeExplore the life of Anne Bradstreet, the pioneering woman poet of Colonial America, who, despite societal constraints, left a lasting literary legacy and became the matriarch of a…
Level C1HistoricalAnna Seward, and Classic LichfieldExplore the life and legacy of Anna Seward, England’s celebrated 18th-century poetess, as her story intertwines with the historic city of Lichfield and its rich literary and eccles…