Horror
Read Horror Classics in English
66 horror 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 horror classics to read in English as a learner?
The best horror classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with The Medici Boots, The Masque of the Red Death and The Man. 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 C1FantasyThe Mummy's FootIn a Parisian curiosity shop brimming with ancient treasures, a chance purchase of a remarkably lifelike embalmed foot leads to a mysterious encounter blending art, history, and th…
Level C1MysteryThe Medici BootsAn ancient pair of amethyst-adorned boots, steeped in dark history and cursed by the Church, resurfaces after decades locked away—posing a deadly mystery for the heirs who must dec…
Level C1HorrorThe Masque of the Red DeathAs a deadly plague ravages the land, Prince Prospero secludes himself with a thousand guests in a fortress, hosting a lavish masquerade within seven eerie, color-themed chambers—ea…
Level C1HorrorThe ManIn a serene churchyard, two contrasting young girls debate power and obedience while a poised, dominant beauty and her athletic mentor observe quietly—setting the stage for a tale…
Level C1MysteryThe Lost StradivariusAt Oxford, a talented young violinist and his friend bond over their shared passion for music, discovering haunting compositions from seventeenth-century Rome that soon entwine the…
Level C1FantasyThe Lair of the White WormA young Australian man receives an inviting letter from his estranged grand-uncle in rural England, promising a warm welcome and a new life.
Level C1HorrorThe Lady of the ShroudA mysterious woman clad in a shroud drifts near a haunted Adriatic shore, sparking eerie encounters and occult investigations.
Level C1MysteryThe Jewel of Seven StarsA mysterious letter summons a barrister at dawn to aid a young woman whose father lies unconscious after a suspected murder attempt, plunging him into a dark and enigmatic world wh…
Level C1HorrorThe Italian, Volume 2 (of 3)In a shadowy Italian convent, Ellena risks exposure to exchange secret messages with the mysterious Vivaldi amid solemn rituals and veiled glances, where danger and intrigue lurk b…
Level C1HorrorThe Italian, Volume 1 (of 3)Amid the shadowed aisles of a solemn Italian church, an assassin seeks sanctuary within the confessional of the Black Penitents, protected by ancient laws and cloaked in mystery.
Level C1MysteryThe House on the BorderlandIn a remote Irish hamlet shrouded in mystery and isolation, two friends set up camp by an unnamed river, only to encounter strange locals and an eerie manuscript that promises to u…
Level C1FantasyThe House of SoulsA London clerk's mundane life is shattered when ancestral memories awaken, revealing a haunting contrast between his dull suburban existence and the noble traditions of an ancient…
Level C1MysteryThe Haunted and the Haunters; Or, The House and the BrainA man ventures into a notorious London house abandoned after eerie hauntings and the mysterious death of its last tenant.
Level C1MysteryThe Great God PanA doctor claims to have discovered a way to lift the veil between our world and a hidden reality, promising to reveal the terrifying truth hidden beneath everyday life—an experimen…
Level C1FantasyThe Ghost ShipA mysterious city reveals itself to be more than mere streets and houses, hinting at a hidden puzzle beneath reality’s surface.
Level C1HorrorThe Garden of SurvivalA man confesses a haunting experience that blurs the line between physical desire and spiritual connection, sparked by the melancholy singing of a mysterious woman whose beauty and…
Level C1FantasyThe Fall of the House of UsherA visitor arrives at the eerie House of Usher, summoned by a childhood friend plagued by mysterious illness and mental torment.
Level C1MysteryThe Evil GuestIn the gloomy estate of Gray Forest, a proud but impoverished nobleman broods over lost status and bitter resentments, while a captivating French governess stirs hidden passions an…
Level C1MysteryThe Dunwich horrorIn a remote Massachusetts village shrouded in decay and ancient dread, eerie stone circles and dark legends hint at sinister forces lurking beyond the natural world.
Level C1FantasyThe Doors of DeathA dying man confronts the mystery of death and the nature of heaven while reflecting on his family’s dark past and the unsettling possibility of being buried alive.
Level C1HorrorThe Doom of the GriffithsA family curse cast by the legendary Welsh chieftain Owain Glendwr dooms the Griffiths to a tragic fate spanning generations.
Level C1MysteryThe Damned Thing: 1898, From "In the Midst of Life"In a remote wilderness cabin, a coroner and locals gather around a mysterious death as a visiting writer prepares to testify about the strange, possibly supernatural circumstances…
Level C1MysteryThe DamnedA weary writer and his sister consider a month-long stay at a lonely widow’s sprawling Sussex mansion, where strange beliefs and unsettling influences threaten to disturb their liv…
Level C1HorrorThe Castle of OtrantoIn a haunted ancient castle, mysterious supernatural events unfold, including the appearance of a giant armored hand, plunging noble families into terror and dark secrets.
Level C1MysteryThe Cask of AmontilladoBeneath the carnival's revelry, a wine connoisseur is lured into the eerie Montresor catacombs by a friend whose chilling promise of rare Amontillado hides a deadly secret.
Level C1Science FictionThe Boats of the "Glen Carrig": Being an account of their Adventures in the Strange places of the Earth, after the foundering of the good ship Glen Carrig through striking upon a hidden rock in the unknown seas to the Southward; as told by John Winterstraw, Gent., to his son James Winterstraw, in the year 1757, and by him committed very properly and legibly to manuscriptStranded in lifeboats after their shipwreck, survivors navigate a desolate, silent land filled with strange, unsettling vegetation and eerie sounds that hint at mysterious dangers…
Level C1MysteryThe Beetle: A MysteryA desperate man, denied shelter in a cold world, confronts harsh rejection and hidden cruelty as he seeks refuge in London's grim casual wards—uncovering a mystery where appearance…
Level C1MysteryThe Beckoning Hand, and Other StoriesAt the Ambiguities Theatre, a casual meeting sparks a mysterious tale filled with intrigue and unexpected connections.
Level C1HorrorTales of the uneasyAn independent woman navigates London's high society with charm and calculated flirtations, resisting love and marriage despite mounting pressures.
Level C1FantasyTales of the Wonder Club, Volume IIIA secretive club of eccentric members gathers for tales spun from mysterious curiosities and strange encounters, blending fantasy with wit and intrigue.
Level C1FantasyTales of the Wonder Club, Volume IIn a secluded English inn, a secretive club of distinguished gentlemen gathers annually to share marvelous tales, shunning business and politics for stories that spark the imaginat…
Level C1MysteryTales of terrorA trusted doctor recounts a chilling tale of friendship, love, and a haunting tragedy tied to a brilliant engineer and his beautiful bride amid the unrest of 1857.
Level C1MysteryTales of Terror and MysteryA daring aeronaut’s blood-stained notebook reveals a terrifying secret lurking in the heights above England, challenging the limits of science and sanity as he confronts an unimagi…
Level C1HorrorStudies in love and in terrorA proud mayor’s wife gazes from a cliff above a secretive submarine cove, torn between patriotic pride and a haunting personal sacrifice.
Level C1MysteryRound the Fire StoriesDive into a chilling collection where the grotesque and mysterious unfold by the fireside, centered around Lionel Dacre's eerie Parisian house filled with occult lore and dark expe…
Level C1MysteryPresent at a Hanging and Other Ghost StoriesWhen a mysterious peddler vanishes after visiting a suspicious old man’s isolated farm, a local minister encounters an eerie apparition that leads to a chilling discovery beneath a…
Level C1HorrorPortrait of a Man with Red Hair: A Romantic MacabreA restless soul drifts between reality and haunting visions on a summer journey, where ancient books and eerie encounters hint at secrets lurking just beyond the ordinary.
Level C1HorrorPausanias, the Spartan; The Haunted and the Haunters: An Unfinished Historical RomanceAmid the turbulent aftermath of the battle of Plataea, a Spartan regent rises to unparalleled power and influence across Greece, concealing a dark conspiracy that could reshape his…
Level C1HorrorNorthanger AbbeyA plain and unremarkable girl, Catherine Morland’s life takes a turn as she grows into society’s expectations, craving excitement beyond her quiet upbringing.
Level C1FantasyMelmoth the Wanderer, Vol. 4In a world where faith, madness, and family secrets intertwine, a mother meticulously crafts a letter revealing her daughter’s fragile mind and impending arranged marriage, setting…
Level C1FantasyMelmoth the Wanderer, Vol. 3Trapped in a shadowy chamber filled with ominous symbols, a young man faces a harrowing choice between faiths under his father's intense and desperate guidance—an intense struggle…
Level C1HorrorMelmoth the Wanderer, Vol. 2Trapped in a convent where every glance breeds suspicion, a desperate man weaves secret letters and hidden plans to escape a life of confinement and spiritual torment.
Level C1HorrorMelmoth the Wanderer, Vol. 1A young student journeys to care for his reclusive, morose uncle whose mysterious past and austere life cast a shadow over his inheritance and future.
Level C1HorrorLa Grande BretecheAn isolated, crumbling manor near Vendôme harbors a chilling mystery hidden beneath its overgrown garden and shattered walls.
Level C1HorrorKnock, Knock, Knock and Other StoriesIn 1830s Petersburg, a young officer haunted by a mysterious destiny navigates the rigid world of military life and brooding comrades, where fate and fortune intertwine beneath a v…
Level C1MysteryJohn Silence, Physician ExtraordinaryA physician with extraordinary psychic abilities tackles baffling cases that defy ordinary medicine, exploring the mysterious forces behind unseen afflictions and the fragile bound…
Level C1MysteryGhost Stories of an Antiquary Part 2: More Ghost StoriesIn a sprawling old school near London, a new master with mysterious charm stirs unease among students as strange, ghostly happenings begin to unfold, challenging their notions of r…
Level C1FantasyFour Weird TalesA man caught between the mundane and a hidden realm where time and space blur uncovers ancient memories and secret forces shaping existence.