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 C1FantasyA Romance of Two Worlds: A NovelIn a world steeped in skepticism and science, a profound encounter challenges the disbelief in the supernatural and the existence of the soul, exploring mysterious forces that infl…
Level C1RomanceA Romance of Toronto (Founded on Fact): A NovelAmid the vibrant life of Toronto and its charming neighborhoods, two friends navigate love, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness.
Level C1RomanceA Romance of Tompkins Square: 1891In a small New York bakery, a determined craftsman battles the mysteries of perfecting traditional lebkuchen while love and loss shape his dreams and sacrifices.
Level C1RomanceA Romance in TransitA diverse group of passengers shares a journey on the Flying Kestrel, where business, personal rivalries, and unexpected connections unfold aboard a moving train.
Level C1RomanceA Rivermouth RomanceIn the quiet seaport town of Rivermouth, Margaret Callaghan secretly weds a man nearly twenty years her junior, risking scandal and upheaval in her long-standing service to the Bil…
Level C1RomanceA Reconstructed MarriageA young man secretly engaged to a mysterious woman named Theodora ignites a fierce clash with his determined mother, who insists he must marry the family-approved Jane Dalkeith.
Level C1RomanceA Rainy June, and Other StoriesAmidst the noisy, bustling life of London, a Venetian patrician falls deeply for a pure, primrose-like Englishwoman, challenging society's fast pace and rigid conventions in a tend…
Level C1RomanceA Question of MarriageA young woman faces a heartbreaking medical verdict forbidding marriage, challenging her dreams of love and family.
Level C1RomanceA Positive Romance: 1898In late 19th-century New York, a bachelor and his friend debate the nature of men's worshipful admiration of women, leading to a profound exploration of love, society, and the myst…
Level C1RomanceA Parisian Sultana, Vol. 2 (of 3)A European flotilla navigates the treacherous Nile, confronting the brutal realities of the slave trade as a determined Egyptian captain challenges a suspicious trader’s cargo.
Level C1RomanceA Pair of Patient LoversA chance encounter on a St.
Level C1RomanceA Noble Queen: A Romance of Indian History (Volume 3 of 3)Amid the triumphant return of King Ibrahim II after a fierce war, loyalties shift and conspiracies unfold in the royal court.
Level C1RomanceA Noble Queen: A Romance of Indian History (Volume 2 of 3)In a vibrant Indian citadel, Abbas Khan emerges as a celebrated hero, navigating court intrigues, fierce battles, and royal councils.
Level C1RomanceA Napa Christchild; and Benicia's LettersOn a dark Christmas Eve in California’s Napa Valley, Crescimir the Illyrian tends his solitary cabin and budding vineyard, longing for connection in a land rich with promise but ma…
Level C1RomanceA Mountain EuropaHigh in the rugged mountains, a stranger encounters a fierce bull-riding girl whose fierce independence clashes with his polite charm, setting the stage for a romance shaped by wil…
Level C1RomanceA Modern InstanceIn a world shaped by shifting ideals and personal ambitions, complex relationships unfold with honest scrutiny and vivid realism.
Level C1RomanceA Mock IdylTwo lifelong friends—one a rebellious sailor, the other a hopeful schoolmaster—reunite as the idealistic tutor sets out to transform a ragtag group of boys with a new educational v…
Level C1RomanceA Minion of the Moon: A Romance of the King's HighwayA young couple flees under the moonlit sky, racing against a furious guardian determined to keep them apart.
Level C1RomanceA Mere Chance: A Novel. Vol. 3In a society buzzing with gossip and shifting alliances, Rachel faces a sudden engagement that promises status but leaves her uncertain and isolated.
Level C1RomanceA Mere Chance: A Novel. Vol. 2An idle man surprises everyone by rushing to meet the woman who holds his heart, igniting a tense reunion filled with unspoken regrets and uncertain promises.
Level C1RomanceA Mere Chance: A Novel. Vol. 1A young woman of humble origins is thrust into Melbourne’s high society after her father’s death, navigating newfound wealth, admiration, and the delicate intrigues of a world eage…
Level C1RomanceA Marriage in High Life, Volume IA young bride from a bustling London family steps into the glittering world of high society through a sudden marriage to a nobleman whose nervousness hints at deeper turmoil.
Level C1RomanceA Marriage at SeaUnder cover of night, a daring escape unfolds from a French harbor as a lover and his loyal crew prepare for a secret rendezvous aboard a stealthy yacht, driven by a romantic lette…
Level C1RomanceA Manifest DestinyOn a voyage to England, Bettina Mowbray’s striking beauty and dual nature—marked by deep sorrow and fierce ambition—capture the eyes of high society, as she sets her sights on marr…
Level C1RomanceA Man: His Mark. A RomanceHigh on Mt.
Level C1RomanceA Man's HearthA chance encounter in a city park sparks a quiet connection between a guarded man and a mysterious woman lost in dreams of what life might hold beyond the river.
Level C1RomanceA Man of HonorA strong-willed young professor faces a crossroads as he wrestles with lost opportunities and a troubled heart, determined to overcome self-doubt and forge his own path through lif…
Level C1RomanceA Lover's Diary, CompleteA young mind wrestles with love, doubt, and societal conventions, revealing a soul transformed by passion and self-renunciation.
Level C1RomanceA Love Story Reversed: 1898Two lifelong friends share a quiet, heartfelt conversation by the fire, revealing the tender struggles of shyness and unspoken love.
Level C1RomanceA Love StoryAmid the sprawling Delmé estate, a young heir grapples with honor, duty, and youthful recklessness.
Level C1RomanceA Love EpisodeIn a softly lit Parisian room, a quiet drama of love and human frailty begins to unfold, revealing the delicate interplay of passion, heredity, and destiny in everyday life.
Level C1RomanceA Love CrimeIn a cozy Parisian apartment, a young couple navigates the delicate balance between social obligations and personal desires, revealing the complexities of love and loyalty amid the…
Level C1RomanceA Little Traitor to the South: A War Time Comedy with a Tragic InterludeAmid the Civil War's fierce loyalties, a proud Southern woman grapples with love and defiance, caught between two men—one a steadfast hero, the other a reckless rogue—while the sha…
Level C1RomanceA Life for a Life, Volume 3 (of 3)A betrothed woman grapples with heartbreak and secrecy as her fiancé returns changed and distant, forcing her to confront painful truths beneath a cheerful facade.
Level C1RomanceA Laodicean : A Story of To-dayAmid the fading light of an ancient English village, a young architectural draughtsman becomes entwined in the shifting tides of tradition and modernity, where romance and social c…
Level C1RomanceA Lame Dog's DiaryIn a village abuzz with curiosity and whispered secrets, the arrival of a mysterious new house sparks intrigue among neighbors.
Level C1RomanceA Ladder of Swords: A Tale of Love, Laughter and TearsIn a perilous world of faith and war during Queen Elizabeth’s reign, a young Huguenot couple defies danger and separation, their love tested by exile, secret letters, and the deadl…
Level C1RomanceA Knight of the NetsIn a remote fishing village where the sea’s fury shapes every life, Christina Binnie stands apart—beautiful, independent, and unmarried against tradition.
Level C1RomanceA Japanese NightingaleBeneath a shimmering full moon, a mysterious and enchanting dance captivates guests on a Japanese island, blending beauty, sorrow, and storm into an unforgettable night.
Level C1RomanceA House Divided Against Itself; vol. 3 of 3Amidst graceful society and tender inquiries, a young soldier wrestles with painful memories and unspoken love for Constance, whose distant happiness haunts him.
Level C1RomanceA Heart-Song of To-day (Disturbed by Fire from the 'Unruly Member'): A NovelIn a world of charm and intrigue, a beautiful widow plots to ensnare a captivating captain torn between fleeting romances and a sincere offer of marriage, while a rival’s fiery pre…
Level C1RomanceA Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume IIIA man haunted by worldly doubts seeks a secret marriage to bind him and his beloved beyond any power that might separate them, challenging the true meaning of love and trust in a s…
Level C1RomanceA Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume IIAt Castle Innisfail, sharp wit and hidden passions collide as Lord Fotheringay debates Irish history with an austere historian, while secrets and confessions stir between Edmund Ai…
Level C1RomanceA Golden Book of VeniceIn 16th-century Venice, beneath sunlit skies and amidst grand churches, a vibrant city of art, power, and mystery awakens, where noble families, artists, and clergy gather in a wor…
Level C1RomanceA Galahad of the Creeks; The Widow LamportAn ambitious young Englishman takes up his post as assistant commissioner in remote Pazobin, Burma, where the mysterious creeks and local customs challenge his resolve and reveal a…
Level C1RomanceA Forest Hearth: A Romance of Indiana in the ThirtiesIn the untamed wilderness of 1830s Indiana, a fiercely just matriarch battles nature and family strife while her gentle daughter, Rita, navigates the harsh realities of pioneer lif…
Level C1RomanceA Fool for LoveIn a rain-soaked Kansas City station, two men embark on a grueling winter journey to the rugged mountains, where unexpected encounters with a striking, proud woman from distinguish…
Level C1RomanceA Fool and His MoneyA young man inherits a fortune and sets out to prove his uncle wrong about fools and money, navigating the trials of youth, ambition, and the literary world while discovering what…