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 C1RomanceThe Three Perils of Man; or, War, Women, and Witchcraft, Vol. 1 (of 3)In a Scotland torn by war and rivalry, noble suitors vie for the hand of Princess Margaret amid the backdrop of border skirmishes and chivalrous feats.
Level C1RomanceThe Three Days' Tournament: A Study in Romance and Folk-Lore: Being an Appendix to the Author's 'Legend of Sir Lancelot'Delve into a rich exploration of Arthurian romance, where ancient Celtic lore and political history intertwine to reveal the origins and evolution of legendary tales surrounding Si…
Level C1RomanceThe Third VioletAn artist escapes the city for a mountain inn, where chance encounters with a mysterious woman and her children spark a journey filled with quiet longing and the promise of unexpec…
Level C1RomanceThe Testing of Diana MalloryOn a crisp Christmas morning, Diana Mallory returns to the timeless English countryside, seeking solace and a sense of belonging after a restless foreign life.
Level C1MysteryThe Terriford mysteryIn a tranquil English village, the arrival of the celebrated Australian cricket team brings excitement and camaraderie—but beneath the cheerful surface lies a mysterious and terrib…
Level C1MysteryThe Tenants of Malory, Volume 3In the shadowy streets where old fortunes fade, a chance encounter sparks a tense game of cat and mouse involving secret notes, mysterious watchers, and a daring young man drawn in…
Level C1MysteryThe Tenants of Malory, Volume 1In the quiet Welsh town of Cardyllian, the long-abandoned Malory estate finally has tenants, yet their mysterious reserve and the estate’s eerie decay spark curiosity and unease am…
Level C1RomanceThe Tallants of Barton, vol. 3 (of 3)Amidst high society and grand celebrations, a dazzling wedding unites Amy Tallant with the noble Earl of Verner, setting the stage for a tale of fortune, love, and the intricate da…
Level C1RomanceThe Talk of the Town, Volume 1 (of 2)An elderly woman bridges centuries, sharing vivid tales from a bygone era filled with historical events, social customs, and unforgettable characters.
Level C1RomanceThe Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. 5 (of 5)Dive into a vibrant collection of intertwined tales filled with intrigue, love, deception, and wit at the courts of Francis I and beyond, where nobles and commoners alike navigate…
Level C1RomanceThe Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. 3 (of 5)In a world where love defies social bounds, a gentleman and his beloved each choose the cloistered life to honor their forbidden bond, while tales of passion, betrayal, and virtue…
Level C1RomanceThe Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. 2 (of 5)Intrigue and irony unfold as Bornet schemes to seduce his maidservant with a friend’s help, only to unwittingly entangle himself in a web of deception involving his own wife.
Level C1RomanceThe Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. 1 (of 5)Dive into a richly illustrated collection of intertwined tales where love, wit, and intrigue unfold through the voices of noble narrators, revealing the complexities of romance and…
Level C1RomanceThe Tale of Chloe: An Episode in the History of Beau BeamishA charming dairymaid's life is upended when a flamboyant duke proposes an impulsive marriage, blending rustic innocence with aristocratic glamour.
Level C1RomanceThe Sweet and Touching Tale of Fleur & Blanchefleur: A Mediæval Legend Translated from the FrenchAmidst a backdrop of war and captivity, two children—Fleur, the son of a heathen king, and Blanchefleur, a Christian captive—grow up inseparable, their deep bond challenged by roya…
Level C1RomanceThe Suitors of Yvonne: being a portion of the memoirs of the Sieur Gaston de LuynesIn a world of intrigue and ambition, a drunken young noble's reckless behavior threatens the fragile trust of powerful patrons, setting the stage for a tale of honor, betrayal, and…
Level C1FantasyThe Story of the Champions of the Round TableAmidst war and betrayal, the young Launcelot of the Lake—destined to be the most noble and brave knight—rises from a besieged castle, his legendary birthmark marking him as a shini…
Level C1RomanceThe Story of an Untold LoveA shy young man’s life transforms the moment a spirited, mysterious girl enters his world, igniting a deep, unspoken love that shapes his every memory and longing.
Level C1RomanceThe Story of a PictureA hopeful youth becomes captivated by a delicate portrait of a mysterious girl, but as seasons pass, a shadow of doubt creeps over the once-sweet face, mirroring his growing uncert…
Level C1FantasyThe Story of Venus and Tannhäuser: A Romantic NovelEnter the enchanted realm of Madam Venus, where the knight Tannhäuser experiences seductive pleasures, spiritual turmoil, and a quest for redemption amid divine and earthly passion…
Level C1FantasyThe Story of Grettir the StrongAmidst a harsh Icelandic landscape, a fierce warrior faces supernatural foes and deadly feuds, battling curses and enemies alike as he seeks honor and survival in a world where fat…
Level C1RomanceThe Story of Francis CluddeOn a misty February day in 1555, young Francis Cludde stands reluctantly at his uncle’s gates along the ancient Ridgeway, awaiting the arrival of the formidable Queen’s Chancellor…
Level C1MysteryThe Story of Charles Strange: A Novel. Vol. 3 (of 3)Amidst London’s crowded streets, Charles Strange wrestles with the mystery of Tom Heriot’s possible escape and elusive presence, driving a desperate search that pits loyalty agains…
Level C1RomanceThe Stars in the Pool: A Prose Poem for LoversIn a realm of enchanted forests and a gleaming castle, a young sculptor named Flame arrives to win the heart of Princess Roseheart, whose beauty mirrors the dawn itself.
Level C1RomanceThe Star-GazersIn a quiet English village, gamekeeper Ben Hayle guards his woodland against poachers while his daughter Judith wrestles with a past shadowed by the return of the enigmatic Caleb K…
Level C1RomanceThe Star-Chamber: An Historical Romance, Volume 2In a court tangled with deceit and poison, Lady Lake’s dark scheme to ruin Lord Roos unfolds amidst fevered betrayals and desperate pleas for love and justice.
Level C1RomanceThe Squire of Sandal-Side: A Pastoral RomanceAmid the rugged beauty of the Cumberland dales, ancient family traditions and Viking heritage shape the lives of the Sandals, where love, loyalty, and the clash of old and new worl…
Level C1RomanceThe Squatter and the Don: A Novel Descriptive of Contemporary Occurrences in CaliforniaAs Mr.
Level C1RomanceThe Splendid FollyCaught in a blustery chase to retrieve scattered music sheets, a young woman encounters a stern, enigmatic man whose judgment could make or break her singing career—will his verdic…
Level C1RomanceThe Spirit of the Border: A Romance of the Early Settlers in the Ohio ValleyAmid the untamed wilderness of the Ohio Valley, a young couple faces the daunting frontier and the fierce conflicts between settlers, outlaws, and Native Americans.
Level C1RomanceThe Spanish JadeIn sunlit Castile, a young man with a dangerous secret rides toward a fateful encounter, weaving through a land as stark and unyielding as his own wild heart.
Level C1RomanceThe Sorrows of Young WertherA sensitive young artist escapes to a serene valley, where nature’s beauty and tranquil solitude awaken his soul, yet his heart wrestles with past sorrows and complicated attachmen…
Level C1RomanceThe Sorceress; v. 1 of 3A young family’s lively world is upended by a surprising marriage proposal from a dashing dragoon without noble rank, stirring excitement and social tension.
Level C1RomanceThe Sorceress (complete)In a lively family shaken by a surprising marriage proposal, young Bee’s world is upended as societal expectations and romantic rivalries swirl around her, challenging the bonds be…
Level C1RomanceThe Song of RolandAs King Charles conquers Spain, the besieged pagan King Marsile plots peace through deceit, sending envoys bearing olive branches to negotiate while preparing for betrayal.
Level C1RomanceThe Small House at AllingtonIn a rural English parish, the ancient Dale family estate stands divided between a grand manor and the lesser Small House, where tradition and changing times pull the heirs in diff…
Level C1MysteryThe Silver ButterflyAfter years abroad, Hayden returns to New York craving the familiar but finds his homecoming tinged with mystery and anticipation.
Level C1RomanceThe Silent Shore: A RomanceTwo friends, stranded by a storm in a dreary French fishing town, uncover a mysterious entry in an old guestbook linking one’s father to a secret past marriage—hinting at secrets t…
Level C1RomanceThe Silent Rifleman! A tale of the Texan prairiesA lone rider journeys across the vast Texan prairie, armed and alert, as dusk approaches and the wilderness stirs around him.
Level C1MysteryThe Silent BarrierAn American named Charles K.
Level C1MysteryThe Sign of the StrangerA weary stranger arrives at a quiet English village, carrying secrets and a mysterious past that intertwine with the lives of the wealthy Stanchester family.
Level C1RomanceThe Siege of the Seven SuitorsIn a select New York club, a practical lawyer's usual composure is shaken by tales of the whimsical Asolando Tea-Room, setting the stage for a charming exploration of romance and s…
Level C1RomanceThe Siege of Norwich Castle: A story of the last struggle against the ConquerorAmidst Norman conquest and brewing alliances, the spirited Emma Fitzosbern faces a pivotal choice as powerful earls vie for her hand—and power shifts around the siege of Norwich Ca…
Level C1RomanceThe Shield of LoveIn a household marked by stark contrasts, Charlotte Fox-Cordery endures hardship and neglected dreams, while an ordinary gentleman’s pity slowly kindles into something deeper.
Level C1RomanceThe SherrodsTwo young lovers cling to their dreams of happiness amid the quiet dangers of a country night, as a jealous rival threatens to tear them apart before their wedding.
Level C1RomanceThe Sheik: A NovelA fearless young woman defies societal expectations by embarking alone on a daring desert journey, challenging her family's legacy and the strict conventions of English society.
Level C1RomanceThe Shadow of the PastUnder the relentless sun by the Atlantic, two men gamble away a stroke of fortune while a mysterious girl with a collie disrupts their solitude, hinting at deeper connections and r…
Level C1RomanceThe Senator's BrideIn post-Civil War Norfolk, a graceful young companion with a mysterious past meets a charming senator's nephew, sparking a delicate dance of wit, allure, and unspoken secrets amid…