Romance
Read Romance Classics in English
2,361 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.
- 2,361
- books
Level C1RomanceThe King's Own Borderers: A Military Romance, Volume 1 (of 3)Amid a stormy November sea near the rugged Scottish coast, Lady Winifred watches anxiously as a brig battles treacherous reefs and rising tides, setting the stage for a tale of war…
Level C1RomanceThe King of ArcadiaAs Breckenridge Ballard takes on the chief engineer role for the Arcadia Irrigation project, he faces a deadly mystery: three predecessors have met suspicious ends.
Level C1RomanceThe King of AlsanderIn a quaint English village, a whimsical tale unfolds filled with madmen, kings, scholars, and conspiracies, where beauty, love, and absurdity intertwine beneath the sunlit skies o…
Level B2RomanceThe Key Note: A NovelIn a rugged coastal retreat beset by broken pipes and sagging porches, a determined woman struggles against the failures of unreliable men, while her idealistic boarder finds beaut…
Level B2RomanceThe Keeper of the DoorA sharp-witted young woman finds herself challenged by a clever, satirical stranger whose brilliance both irritates and intrigues her, sparking a tense dance of wit, pride, and une…
Level C1RomanceThe Journal to Eliza and Various letters by Laurence Sterne and Elizabeth DraperA passionate and turbulent love unfolds through intimate letters and journal entries between a London wit and the captivating Eliza, whose life straddles the exotic allure and hars…
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 C1RomanceThe Jessica Letters: An Editor's RomanceAn aspiring writer seeks guidance from a seasoned editor in bustling New York, confronting the harsh realities and sacrifices demanded by a life devoted to literature.
Level C1HorrorThe Italian, Volume 2 (of 3)In a shadowy Italian convent, Ellena risks exposure to exchange secret messages with the mysterious Vivaldi amid solemn rituals and veiled glances, where danger and intrigue lurk b…
Level C1HorrorThe Italian, Volume 1 (of 3)Amid the shadowed aisles of a solemn Italian church, an assassin seeks sanctuary within the confessional of the Black Penitents, protected by ancient laws and cloaked in mystery.
Level C1RomanceThe Isle of UnrestIn a remote Corsican village battered by mistral winds, a mysterious death disrupts the brooding silence and stirs hidden tensions.
Level C1RomanceThe Island of Fantasy: A RomanceA wealthy young sculptor battles a deep malaise despite his success, haunted by ennui and lost ambition.
Level C1RomanceThe Invasion of France in 1814As foreign armies invade France in 1814, villagers unite in fierce resistance, blending courage and desperation to defend their homeland.
Level C1RomanceThe Intrusions of PeggyWidowed Trix Trevalla reflects on a life shaped by hardship, family secrets, and a marriage born from unspoken alliances.
Level B2RomanceThe IntriguersIn the scenic backdrop of Quebec, an adventurous widow and her companion navigate social intrigues, wild animals, and mysterious letters, uncovering secrets that intertwine nature,…
Level C1RomanceThe Innocents: A Story for LoversIn a modest New York flat, an aging couple clings to love and simple joys amid the city's relentless pace.
Level C1RomanceThe Initials: A Story of Modern LifeAn English traveler in Munich grows restless amid predictable journeys and deserted city streets, yearning to uncover the true character and hidden stories of the Germans he meets.
Level C1RomanceThe Infidel; or, the Fall of Mexico. Vol. II.Amidst a grand feast in Tezcuco, Cortes prepares to lead a diverse army in a daring campaign against Tenochtitlan, while political tensions simmer beneath the surface of celebratio…
Level C1RomanceThe Infidel; or, the Fall of Mexico. Vol. I.Amid the fading grandeur of Tezcuco, once a majestic kingdom rich in culture and learning, the return of Spanish conquerors threatens to shatter the fragile peace.
Level C1RomanceThe Indiscretion of the Duchess: Being a Story Concerning Two Ladies, a Nobleman, and a NecklaceAn Englishman finds himself drawn into a tangled drama of intrigue and romance when his friend invites him to join a forbidden visit to a French duchess, whose life is shadowed by…
Level C1RomanceThe Indian On The Trail: From "Mackinac And Lake Stories", 1899In a secluded lime-kiln on a quiet island, Maurice Barrett wrestles with the passion and complexities of a love that defies age and past regrets, as he awaits the woman who has awa…
Level C1MysteryThe Indian BangleA widow in colonial Bombay navigates grief, wealth, and complex family ties as she prepares to honor her late husband while unraveling secrets tied to a longstanding engagement and…
Level C1RomanceThe Independence of ClaireTorn between duty and desire, Claire Gifford faces a heart-wrenching choice as her family's financial troubles force her to consider marriage not for love, but for survival.
Level C1RomanceThe Incredible HoneymoonA young engineer inherits property and abandons his trade to pursue a pastoral dream, embarking on a whimsical adventure with a loyal dog by his side.
Level B2RomanceThe Incomplete AmoristIn a bustling community bound by gossip and small dramas, Betty navigates the challenges of daily life and unexpected connections, all while seeking moments of quiet escape in stor…
Level C1RomanceThe Imprudence of PrueOn a dark moorland evening, two women’s carriage is stopped by a bold highwayman demanding a kiss instead of gold—a daring encounter that promises romance, danger, and secrets lurk…
Level C1RomanceThe Impostor: A Tale of Old AnnapolisIn colonial Annapolis, the charming and clever Martha Stirling navigates courtship and intrigue amid the arrival of the handsome, mysterious Sir Edward Parkington, whose shipwrecke…
Level B2RomanceThe Imaginary MarriageA young woman torn between her domineering aunt’s choice of a wealthy suitor and her own love for a penniless but charming young man must navigate family control and her own heart’…
Level B2RomanceThe Hunter Hercules, or, The Champion Rider of the Plains: A Romance of the PrairiesA daring young hunter roams the vast Texas prairie, seeking a lost heir and adventure, when a desperate cry for help leads him into a deadly encounter with a panther—and a mysterio…
Level B2RomanceThe Hundredth ChanceCaught between pride and necessity, a young woman faces the harsh reality of her family's desperate circumstances and the unwelcome prospect of marrying a man she despises.
Level C1RomanceThe House of the Wolf: A RomanceIn the tense summer of 1572, three brothers and their cousin Catherine face a stirring revelation and looming dangers at the French court, where loyalty, love, and the shadow of a…
Level C1RomanceThe House of de MaillyIn 1744 Paris, Count Claude de Mailly navigates treacherous court intrigues and forbidden desires as he grapples with his feelings for the proud and elusive Mme.
Level C1RomanceThe House of ToysA young architect, charming yet struggling, dreams of building a house of love for the girl who inspires him—but fate and unexpected encounters test his hopes, weaving a tale where…
Level C1RomanceThe House of Dreams-Come-TrueIn a shadowy, grand hall, a father and daughter share a moment charged with unspoken hopes as an unexpected invitation to England promises to change their lives forever.
Level B2MysteryThe House by the LockA restless adventurer returns to London seeking new thrills after years abroad, only to find his night at the theatre entwined with a mysterious mining magnate and unexpected intri…
Level B2RomanceThe House Under the Sea: A RomanceA seasoned seaman embarks on a mysterious voyage to the remote Ken Archipelago, driven by a secret cause tied to a woman named Ruth Bellenden, as his ship nears uncharted shores un…
Level C1RomanceThe Hope of the Katzekopfs; or, The Sorrows of Selfishness. A Fairy Tale.In a world where fairy tales hold hidden lessons, a timeless storyteller seeks to awaken young hearts to the dangers of selfishness and the power of empathy, inviting readers into…
Level C1RomanceThe Honourable Mr. TawnishIn a world of duels, dog-fights, and high society intrigues, a young gentleman faces the scandal of a rebellious love that defies his family's plans—challenging honor, tradition, a…
Level C1RomanceThe Honour of Savelli: A RomanceIn a tense camp before Arezzo, a sharp betrayal shatters fragile peace among knights and nobles, entangling honor, friendship, and passion in a volatile Italian romance set against…
Level C1RomanceThe Honorable Peter Stirling and What People Thought of HimA smooth-talking socialite challenges the notion that modern life lacks romance and nobility, arguing that love and heroism still shape destinies amid the bustle of a New York yach…
Level C1RomanceThe History of the Seven Wise Masters of RomeA young prince faces a deadly accusation from his stepmother, but seven wise sages weave tales to defend his innocence against her deceitful plots.
Level C1RomanceThe History of the Lady Betty StairIn 1798, amid the turmoil of revolution and exile, Lady Betty Stair navigates a world of court intrigue, old rivalries, and forbidden passions at the haunted palace of Holyrood, wh…
Level C1RomanceThe History of Pendennis, Volume 2: His Fortunes and Misfortunes, His Friends and His Greatest EnemyIn a world of restless youth and tangled loyalties, Mr.
Level C1RomanceThe History of Emily MontagueAn adventurous lieutenant-colonel seeks a fresh start in the wild beauty of Canada, captivated by its untamed landscapes and promising new life.
Level C1RomanceThe History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, CompleteEmbark on the continued adventures of a nobleman turned delusional knight and his loyal squire as they encounter enchanted ladies, mysterious caves, and droll misadventures that bl…
Level C1RomanceThe History of Don Quixote de la ManchaA nobleman obsessed with chivalric romances sets out on a quest to revive knightly honor, armed with idealistic dreams and a rusty suit of armor.
Level C1RomanceThe Historical Romances of Georg EbersDive into ancient Egypt’s rich tapestry of intrigue, love, and power, where historical monuments and timeless emotions intertwine, revealing the vibrant lives behind the Pharaohs’…
Level C1RomanceThe Hill of VenusIn the mystical summer twilight of 1266 Basilicata, a young court page named Francesco embarks on a solitary journey to the ancient cloisters of San Cataldo, where secrets and pass…