Horror
Read Horror Classics in English
22 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 Wieland; Or, The Transformation: An American Tale, Wandering ghosts and Visible and Invisible. 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 B2MysteryTwenty-Five Ghost StoriesA man haunted by guilt and madness recounts his chilling encounters with a mysterious black cat, blurring the line between natural events and supernatural horror in a tale of obses…
Level B2MysteryThe thing in the woodsA young doctor takes a three-month substitute post in a remote Pennsylvania village, expecting a peaceful retreat among the woods and hills.
Level B2MysteryThe skeleton crewIn a snow-covered village, a mysterious youth shuns a festive Christmas dance, haunted by secrets and shadowed by a striking horseman cloaked in darkness.
Level B2Science FictionThe marrying monsterA lonely cooper longs for a wife who cooks well but doesn't eat much—until a mysterious, wiry woman appears, charming and tireless, yet harboring a strange secret that could change…
Level B2MysteryThe haunter of the ringA man haunted by the dark legacy of his ancestor faces terrifying attempts on his life by his seemingly gentle wife, plunging him into a chilling mystery of past crimes and superna…
Level B2FantasyThe dream snakeA man haunted by a relentless dream finds himself trapped in a vivid African nightmare where a giant serpent prowls the grasslands, threatening his life and sanity as the line betw…
Level B2Science FictionThe MonsterAs a daring rocket experiment sends a cat into the cosmic rays of the upper atmosphere, a journalist uncovers the ethical and scientific tensions behind the mission—where the quest…
Level B2HorrorThe Monkey's Paw: The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 2.A mysterious sergeant-major visits a quiet family with a chilling tale of a cursed monkey’s paw that grants three wishes, each bringing unforeseen consequences.
Level B2FantasyThe Living MummyIn the scorching Libyan desert, a renowned Egyptologist and his intriguing daughter uncover the tomb of Ptahmes, a powerful priest who foretold his own resurrection after millennia…
Level B2MysteryThe Joss: A ReversionA day of misfortune turns into a tangled mystery when a shop assistant faces dismissal after missing crucial sales, only to be drawn into a curious adventure involving strange cust…
Level B2HorrorThe Diary of Philip WesterlyA cruel man’s obsession with a gigantic mirror turns into a nightmare when his reflection becomes a sinister, mocking entity that refuses to mirror his every move.
Level B2Science FictionThe Dark OtherA man obsessed with capturing pure, undefinable horror in his writing finds himself drawn into dark conversations and mysterious moods by the shores of Lake Michigan, where reality…
Level B2HorrorThe Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 02: In the Midst of Life: Tales of Soldiers and CiviliansIn a tense Civil War landscape, a young soldier faces deadly consequences after falling asleep on duty while guarding a critical mountain pass, where the fate of an impending surpr…
Level B2FantasyTales of the Wonder Club, Volume IIWhen love is forbidden by bitter family feuds, a young man’s heartbreak spirals into a mysterious illness that convinces all he is dead—yet his mind remains sharp and trapped in a…
Level B2FantasySea curseIn a coastal village ruled by fierce sailors, a dark curse is unleashed when a young girl returns dead from the sea, sparking vengeance and terror that haunt the restless ocean and…
Level B2FantasyLukundoo, and other storiesIn the depths of an untamed African forest, explorers encounter Etcham, a desperate messenger seeking help for his ailing chief, Ralph Stone—a man shrouded in mystery and marked by…
Level B2HorrorDon't Think About ItA young boy discovers a mysterious, growing hole in his closet harboring a sinister presence that terrifies his beloved toys.
Level B2MysteryCurious, if True: Strange TalesAn orphaned child with noble ties is sent to live in a grand but lonely manor, guarded by a devoted nurse whose loyalty will unveil secrets hidden deep within the family’s past and…
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 B2MysteryBlack hound of deathIn a shadowy Southern wilderness, a desperate man flees a monstrous killer whose savage attacks defy explanation, while a mysterious recluse hides secrets that may hold the key to…
Level B2HorrorFrankensteinA young scientist builds a living being from death — and abandons what he makes.
Level B2HorrorThe String of Pearls; Or, The Barber of Fleet Street. A Domestic Romance.The classic mystery novel by Thomas Peckett Prest.