Romance
Read Romance Classics in English
1,673 romance 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 romance classics to read in English as a learner?
The best romance classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with Zoraida: A Romance of the Harem and the Great Sahara, Zibeline — Complete and Young Earnest: The Romance of a Bad Start in Life. 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.
- 1,673
- books
Level C1MysteryThe Destroying AngelFacing a grim diagnosis with only months to live, a young lawyer confronts his shattered future and the bitter injustice of fate.
Level C1RomanceThe Deserted WomanA young Parisian arrives in a quiet Norman town to recover, only to find himself entangled in the intricate social rivalries and fading aristocratic customs of provincial France in…
Level C1RomanceThe Desert HealerIn the sun-drenched solitude of the Algerian desert, a weary healer and his companions seek refuge from past struggles and tangled relationships, while whispers of loneliness and t…
Level C1RomanceThe DelugeA bold financier rises from humble beginnings to challenge the iron grip of the kings of finance, using unorthodox methods and fearless self-assertion to sway the masses and shake…
Level C1RomanceThe Defence of Guenevere and Other PoemsStep into a world of chivalry and enchantment, where angels arm noble knights and legends like Sir Galahad and Rapunzel unfold through lyrical tales of love, valor, and mystical qu…
Level C1RomanceThe Deceased Wife's Sister, and My Beautiful Neighbour, v. 3A young man becomes captivated by a mysterious, beautiful neighbor seen only once during a midnight walk, sparking an intense, secret longing that distracts him from his studies an…
Level C1RomanceThe Death Shot: A Story RetoldOn a stark Texan prairie, a mysterious, disembodied human head defies natural laws, warding off predatory beasts with eerie life and menace.
Level C1MysteryThe Dead Letter: An American RomanceIn the Dead Letter office, a mysterious two-year-old letter addressed to John Owen captivates a cynical clerk, pulling him into a tangled web of secrets and forgotten connections t…
Level C1RomanceThe Daughter of the CommandantA young sergeant's sheltered upbringing unravels amid family drama and unexpected events, as he navigates education, loyalty, and love in a turbulent world shaped by duty and rebel…
Level C1RomanceThe Daughter PaysIn a sunlit London art gallery, two captivating young women, Virginia and Miriam, bask in luxury and carefree charm—until a mysterious, hostile stranger’s gaze unsettles their sere…
Level C1RomanceThe Cursed Patois: From "Mackinac And Lake Stories", 1899Amidst the rugged beauty of a lakeside camp, a chance encounter with a widow and her child challenges two guides to confront their fears and prejudices, weaving a tale of unexpecte…
Level C1RomanceThe Cuckoo in the Nest, v. 1/2In a fading country inn once grand, spirited Patience Hewitt confronts the challenges of family pride and complicated courtship, as the old world meets new at The Seven Thorns.
Level C1RomanceThe Cryptogram: A Story of Northwest CanadaIn the vast, untamed wilderness of 19th-century Canada, a young fur trader embarks on a perilous winter journey from Fort Royal to Quebec, navigating brutal landscapes and hidden d…
Level C1RomanceThe CrucibleA defiant young woman named Jean, who rejects traditional femininity and longs to live as a man, faces confinement in a harsh refuge where she must confront her past, her identity,…
Level C1RomanceThe Cross of Berny; Or, Irene's LoversTorn between duty and desire, a young woman engaged to a noble prince grapples with unexpected fears and doubts about her future.
Level C1RomanceThe Crimson Gardenia and Other Tales of AdventureAmid the dazzling Mardi Gras in New Orleans, a disillusioned socialite dismisses love and passion as relics of the past—until unexpected adventure and romance threaten to upend his…
Level C1Science FictionThe Crack of DoomA mysterious society challenges the very nature of the universe as a disillusioned traveler encounters a brilliant, enigmatic man whose radical ideas promise to change everything h…
Level C1RomanceThe Coxswain's Bride; also, Jack Frost and Sons; and, A Double RescueAs a fierce hurricane threatens the western shores, Sturdy Bob, the brave coxswain of the Greyton lifeboat, prepares to face wild seas and storms, all while his heart is anchored b…
Level C1RomanceThe Courtship of Morrice Buckler: A RomanceA bookish student revisits a tumultuous two-year period marked by adventure, intrigue, and romance, as memories of a distant Tyrolean castle and a mysterious countess come vividly…
Level C1RomanceThe Courtship of Miles Standish:: With Suggestions for Study and NotesIn a time of religious strife and exile, a determined band of Puritans embarks on a perilous journey to the New World, seeking freedom to worship and a place to build a new life am…
Level C1RomanceThe Countess of Pembroke's ArcadiaJourney into a richly imagined world where poetic romance and prose narrative intertwine, exploring the evolving nature of storytelling through passion, imagination, and reason in…
Level C1RomanceThe Countess Cosel: A Romance of History of the Times of Augustus the StrongAs the once-mighty Augustus the Strong mourns his lost Polish crown in a shadowed Dresden castle, court intrigues and shattered dreams unfold.
Level C1MysteryThe Cottage on the FellsA struggling barrister falls passionately for a mysterious woman living apart from society in a quiet seaside town, but shadows from her past threaten to keep them apart.
Level C1RomanceThe Coast of AdventureIn the sweltering Caribbean town of Rio Frio, a British adventurer and a principled priest navigate a world of political corruption, foreign exploitation, and simmering tensions.
Level C1RomanceThe Cloister and the HearthIn 15th-century Holland, a devoted couple navigates the joys and hardships of raising nine children amid a turbulent world ruled by cunning monarchs.
Level C1MysteryThe Clock Struck OneA fearless young woman and a devoted doctor uncover unsettling connections between a mysterious Lady Burville and a reclusive guardian whose sudden illness follows a chilling churc…
Level C1RomanceThe ClawA young woman embarks on a rugged, solitary journey across the wild, untamed landscapes of Mashonaland, battling discomfort and danger while drawn irresistibly by the haunting beau…
Level C1RomanceThe ClaveringsIn the parched gardens of Clavering Park, old acquaintances Julia and Harry confront tangled emotions and societal expectations that threaten their futures—will love or duty prevai…
Level C1RomanceThe Claim Jumpers: A RomanceIn a chaotic New York artists' boarding house, Bennie de Laney, a privileged young man chafing under his pompous family's expectations, dreams of escaping East Coast society for th…
Level C1RomanceThe Circassian Slave, or, the Sultan's favorite : a story of Constantinople and the CaucasusIn the bustling slave market of Constantinople, a stunning yet silent Circassian beauty captivates eager bidders, including a determined Turkish naval officer, as her mysterious fa…
Level C1RomanceThe Cid Campeador: A Historical RomanceIn 11th-century Spain, amid royal feuds and Moorish conflicts, a noble warrior's courage, loyalty, and love intertwine as he fights to restore honor, defend his land, and win the h…
Level C1RomanceThe Chronicles of the Imp: A RomanceIn a richly detailed Georgian world of stagecoaches and boxers, a tale of unyielding spirit and idyllic love unfolds, capturing the charm of a bygone era where honor and romance re…
Level C1RomanceThe Chronicles of Count AntonioCount Antonio defies a cunning Duke’s decree, risking outlawry for the love of Lady Lucia, whose hand is promised to another.
Level C1RomanceThe Christian: A StoryA spirited young woman named Glory departs the Isle of Man, accompanied by two clergymen who watch over her uncertain journey to London.
Level C1GothicThe Children of the Abbey: A TaleSeeking refuge in a tranquil Welsh cottage, Amanda returns to the tender care of her nurse and childhood companions, finding solace amidst picturesque valleys and rural charm as sh…
Level C1MysteryThe Childerbridge MysteryA self-made Australian millionaire prepares to return to his English roots with his grown children, but as they say farewell to their beloved station, an unexpected encounter by th…
Level C1RomanceThe Child WifeOn the scenic Isle of Peace, two cousins navigate the sharp divides of social status and simmering tensions among Newport’s elite, as one dreams of escape beyond America's shores t…
Level C1RomanceThe Chateau of Prince PolignacIn the picturesque volcanic town of Le Puy, an Englishwoman and a local official cross paths amidst ancient castles and steep streets, setting the stage for a tale of romance and i…
Level C1RomanceThe Chaste DianaIn 1727 London, the charismatic Lord Baltimore and the brooding Duke of Bolton navigate the glittering yet cutthroat world of theater and high society, where ambition, scandal, and…
Level C1RomanceThe Chartreuse of ParmaAmid the vibrant intrigues of Parma, a captivating duchess wields power and passion, drawing readers into a world of forbidden love and political machinations.
Level C1RomanceThe Charterhouse of Parma, Volume 2Amid political intrigue and fierce family loyalty, a young nobleman faces a harsh sentence while his determined aunt races against time to save him, weaving a tale of power, passio…
Level C1RomanceThe Charterhouse of Parma, Volume 1Amid political intrigue and passionate ambition, a young nobleman navigates the complexities of love and power in early 19th-century Italy.
Level C1RomanceThe Chapel on the HillTwo lifelong friends at Cambridge face a crossroads: Riverdale, the carefree artist heir, and Harold Stirling, the steadfast athlete, confront diverging paths and a clash of ideals…
Level C1RomanceThe Chalice Of Courage: A Romance of ColoradoIn the rugged Colorado canyons, a sudden, heart-stopping scream shatters a man's careless ride, launching him into a desperate search for a fallen woman whose fate hangs on a peril…
Level C1RomanceThe Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 2 of 2: or, The Recluse of Jamestown; An historical romance of the Old DominionIn a tempest as wild as his own tormented soul, a desperate rider defies nature’s fury and fate itself, plunging into a world of madness and rebellion.
Level C1RomanceThe Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2: or, The Recluse of Jamestown; An historical romance of the Old DominionIn the turbulent wake of Cromwell's death and the Restoration of Charles II, Jamestown becomes a battleground of rival factions—Cavaliers and Roundheads—clashing amid political int…
Level C1RomanceThe CavalierAmid the chaos of a Confederate cavalry camp in Mississippi, a young soldier grapples with duty, dreams, and unexpected encounters when a strikingly elegant lady from New Orleans c…
Level C1FantasyThe Castle of Ehrenstein: Its Lords Spiritual and Temporal; Its Inhabitants Earthly and UnearthlyA young nobleman braves a stormy night to explore the shadowy, abandoned halls of the ancient Castle of Ehrenstein, uncovering eerie secrets and confronting the whispers of its gho…