Poetry
Read Poetry Classics in English
1,346 poetry 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 poetry classics to read in English as a learner?
The best poetry classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with Thrills of a Bell Boy, Three Women and Three Sunsets and Other Poems. 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.
- 1,346
- books
Level C1PoetryThy Sea is Great, Our Boats are Small, and Other Hymns of To-DayExplore heartfelt hymns that blend timeless faith with modern insight, expressing trust, hope, and unity amid life's vast and uncertain journey across the mighty sea of existence.
Level C1PoetryThree WomenThree women’s lives intertwine against the backdrop of a summer train station, where dreams, desires, and restless hearts ignite a timeless drama of passion and strife.
Level C1HistoricalThree Philosophical Poets: Lucretius, Dante, and GoetheExplore the philosophical depths of three towering poets—Lucretius, Dante, and Goethe—whose works embody naturalism, supernaturalism, and romanticism, revealing how poetry and phil…
Level C1PoetryThreads of Grey and GoldExperience the rich traditions and heartfelt rituals of New Year’s celebrations across Scotland and England, where ancient customs blend with community spirit, mystery, and hope as…
Level C1PoetryThoughts, Moods and Ideals: Crimes of LeisureExplore a stirring poetic journey that captures the awakening spirit of a new nation, weaving visions of home, identity, and the timeless call of the native land amid vivid landsca…
Level C1PoetryThomas MooreFrom a humble Dublin childhood to celebrated poet, this biography explores the rise, friendships, and enduring legacy of the man behind the Irish Melodies.
Level C1HistoricalThomas Davis, selections from his prose and poetryDive into the passionate writings of a visionary Irish patriot who reshaped history, literature, and politics through poetry and prose.
Level C1PoetryThink Before You Speak; Or, The Three WishesDiscover the timeless tale of three wishes that teaches the importance of thinking carefully before speaking, brought to life in a charming poetic form that delights young readers…
Level C1PoetryTheocritus, translated into English VerseExplore the art of translating ancient Greek bucolic poetry, where the challenge lies in capturing the original meter and rhythm without sacrificing meaning, as the translator deba…
Level C1PoetryTheocritus, Bion and Moschus, Rendered into English ProseExplore the pastoral beauty and rich traditions of ancient Greece through the bucolic idyls of Theocritus, Bion, and Moschus, capturing a world where poetry blooms amidst cultural…
Level C1PoetryThe Æneids of Virgil, Done into English VerseDriven by fate from fallen Troy, Æneas and his followers face storms, war, and divine intrigues as they seek a new homeland, encountering love and loss on their epic journey to fou…
Level C1PoetryThe Æneid of Virgil, Translated into English VerseEmbark on a grand journey that weaves Roman destiny, fierce love, and divine duty into a majestic epic poem.
Level C1PoetryThe Æneid of Virgil translated into English proseAn epic journey unfolds as a Trojan hero braves gods and fate to lay the foundations of Rome, weaving patriotism and destiny into a timeless tale of struggle and empire’s rise.
Level C1RomanceThe works of Richard Hurd, volume 8 (of 8)In a stirring sermon delivered before the House of Lords, the speaker urges deep reflection and repentance amid national turmoil, challenging dangerous political ideologies and emp…
Level C1RomanceThe works of Richard Hurd, volume 7 (of 8)A corrupt governor and his adulterous wife confront the Apostle Paul, who boldly challenges their vices with truths of righteousness and impending judgment.
Level C1RomanceThe works of Richard Hurd, volume 6 (of 8)Dive into a thoughtful exploration of faith and duty, where a preacher’s wisdom is likened to a householder’s careful stewardship of treasures new and old, guiding believers throug…
Level C1RomanceThe works of Richard Hurd, volume 5 (of 8)Dive into a rigorous exploration of biblical prophecy, examining whether its predictions reveal divine inspiration or human invention.
Level C1RomanceThe works of Richard Hurd, volume 4 (of 8)Amidst the turmoil of war and religious persecution, a hopeful vision unfolds of a prince destined to champion liberty and faith across Europe, challenging tyranny and igniting the…
Level C1RomanceThe works of Richard Hurd, volume 2 (of 8)Explore the art of poetry as a pursuit of pleasure, where language transforms into vivid images and rhythmic beauty, inviting readers to discover how words enchant the mind beyond…
Level C1RomanceThe works of Richard Hurd, volume 1 (of 8)Explore the life and achievements of a devoted clergyman rising from humble beginnings to bishopric, guided by education, faith, and influential friendships.
Level C1PoetryThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 15Epic battles and divine interventions shape the fate of Æneas as he seeks aid from allies and faces relentless foes.
Level C1PoetryThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 14Step into a world where poetic mastery meets profound reflection on nature and human life, as a devoted translator presents Virgil's Georgics with insightful commentary, exploring…
Level C1PoetryThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 13Dive into a powerful essay on satire that honors a noble patron’s rise and explores the art of poetry, blending classical wisdom with personal reflection on genius, judgment, and t…
Level C1PoetryThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 12Dive into a rich collection of poetic masterpieces, including Dryden’s modernized tales from Chaucer and translations of Ovid’s epistles, blending classical narratives with insight…
Level C1PoetryThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 11Explore the early poetic epistles of a young scholar, revealing his sharp wit and evolving style amid the Restoration's shifting cultural tides.
Level C1PoetryThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 10Dive into a powerful poetic discourse on faith and reason amid England’s religious and political turmoil, where the national church’s doctrines are explored with philosophical clar…
Level C1PoetryThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 09Political and historical poems explore the complex figure of Oliver Cromwell, balancing admiration with restraint amid the tumultuous backdrop of civil war.
Level C1PoetryThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 06Dive into a biting comedy that exposes the tangled scandals and hypocrisies of Charles II’s court, where satire cuts deep into the lives of nobles and mistresses alike, revealing a…
Level C1HistoricalThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 05Amidst brutal colonial conflict, English merchants in the Spice Islands face horrific torture and betrayal by the Dutch, igniting political and personal vengeance.
Level C1HistoricalThe white doeAmid the fierce ambitions of English colonization, a determined explorer risks fortune and favor to establish a new world on Virginia’s coast.
Level C1HistoricalThe treatment of nature in English poetry between Pope and WordsworthExplore the shifting attitudes toward Nature in English poetry during the transformative eighteenth century, tracing the roots of Romanticism through poetry, painting, and gardens…
Level C1PoetryThe sweet miracleAmid the fertile plains of Galilee, a weary old man seeks out a mysterious new Rabbi whose miracles ignite hope and challenge despair.
Level C1PoetryThe story of Eros & Psyche (retold from Apuleius)In a kingdom where the youngest princess, Psyche, captivates all with her otherworldly beauty, the goddess Aphrodite’s jealousy sparks a divine scheme to make her fall for a lowly…
Level C1PoetryThe sonnets, triumphs, and other poems of PetrarchDelve into the life and heartfelt poetry of a Renaissance poet shaped by exile, political strife, and enduring love.
Level C1PoetryThe song of the exileJourney through a Canadian epic that intertwines history and passion, from the siege of Quebec to the War of 1812, captured in stirring verse and poignant reflections on love, war,…
Level C1PoetryThe silver netTwo cousins share secrets, roses, and the bittersweet trials of love in a delicate dialogue where friendship and romance intertwine beneath the watching stars.
Level C1AdventureThe shipwreckA seaman-poet combines nautical expertise with vivid imagination to portray the harrowing experience of a shipwreck, offering both a gripping narrative and a technical guide to sur…
Level C1PoetryThe rise and fall of the mustache, and other "Hawk-eyetems"Explore a whimsical journey through the evolution of the mustache, blending humor and reflection on life's early wonders and woes, as humanity's first troubles unfold in a world bo…
Level C1PoetryThe rhyme and reason of country lifeImmerse yourself in the rich tapestry of country life through a curated collection of poetry and prose, exploring nature’s beauty from ancient to modern voices across multiple lang…
Level C1PoetryThe poetry of pathos & delightExplore the fusion of joy and sorrow through poetry that transforms everyday moments into profound reflections.
Level C1PoetryThe poetry of Robert BrowningTwo towering poets hold unmatched peaks in the world of verse, yet their paths diverge—one embraced by the public, the other a complex enigma.
Level C1PoetryThe poetical works of Janet Little, the Scotch milkmaidExplore heartfelt reflections and vivid dialogues in verse, from hopeful musings to elegies and epistles, capturing the everyday and extraordinary moments of 18th-century Scottish…
Level C1PoetryThe poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes — Volume 2Immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of parables, ballads, and poems that explore nature, faith, and the human spirit through vivid imagery and heartfelt reflection.
Level C1PoetryThe poetic EddaDive into the ancient Norse world with vivid poems exploring gods, heroes, and cosmic creation, blending myth, wisdom, and drama from a timeless oral tradition preserved in stunnin…![Cover of The poems of Winthrop Mackworth Praed. [selected] by Winthrop Mackworth Praed](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafecj5a8p2c739itrn0.webp)
Level C1PoetryThe poems of Winthrop Mackworth Praed. [selected]Witty and graceful verses capture the spirit and satire of high society, reflecting the humor and manners of a bygone era with sharp wordplay and clever insight.
Level C1PoetryThe poems of Thomas Gordon HakeExplore a rich tapestry of meditative stanzas that blend deep composure with the ecstasy of dreams, revealing enduring poetic passion shaped by decades of careful intention and pro…
Level C1PoetryThe poems of Mary HowittDelve into heartfelt poems that blend gentle sympathy with vivid imagination, inspired by nature, faith, and quiet domestic life.
Level C1PoetryThe poems of Heine; CompleteExplore the vivid world of Heinrich Heine through over 20,000 verses that preserve his original rhythms and reveal both his charming and challenging poetic voice, from intimate min…