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 C1RomanceChristinaA charming bachelor contemplates placing a matrimonial ad, sparking playful banter among friends about love, marriage, and domestic life.
Level C1RomanceChiquita, an American Novel: The Romance of a Ute Chief's DaughterBorn into a once-respected family shadowed by a reckless father's downfall, Jack Sheppard navigates the tensions of heritage, hardship, and hope in a New England valley where love…
Level B2RomanceChip, of the Flying UA rugged ranch prepares for an unexpected summer guest when the Old Man’s newly minted doctor sister arrives, threatening to upend the rough-and-tumble routine with her city ways a…
Level C1MysteryChildren of the WhirlwindIn a grimy New York street, the enigmatic Duchess’s pawnshop hides tangled secrets as young Maggie Carlisle and Larry Brainard’s lives intertwine, setting the stage for a turbulent…
Level C1RomanceChaucer's Works, Volume 2 — Boethius and TroilusImprisoned and awaiting execution, a philosopher confronts fate and seeks solace in reason, exploring fortune, free will, and the divine order.
Level C1RomanceCharlotte's InheritanceIn the shadowy world of a grim Parisian boarding house, young law student Gustave Lenoble navigates political divides and family loyalty while chasing his place in society, where m…
Level C1RomanceCharles RexA restless lord, known as Charles Rex, seeks escape from society's monotony aboard his yacht, where freedom and fate intertwine beneath the vast, unpredictable sea.
Level B2RomanceChantemerleIn the shadow of the Vendéan War, a young woman caught between courtly duty and forbidden love finds herself torn as political tensions rise and loyalty is tested.
Level C1RomanceChance: A Tale in Two PartsA young seaman reflects on the pride and challenges of maritime life, navigating the uncertainties of career and fate.
Level C1RomanceCecilia; Or, Memoirs of an Heiress — Volume 3Torn by doubt yet bound by duty, Cecilia wrestles with her heart and honor as she faces a secret, hastened marriage that could alter her life forever.
Level C1RomanceCecilia; Or, Memoirs of an Heiress — Volume 2Caught between duty and despair, Cecilia aids a struggling family torn by illness and fading fortunes, navigating the harsh realities of society and the sacrifices made for love an…
Level C1RomanceCecilia; Or, Memoirs of an Heiress — Volume 1An orphaned heiress embarks on a journey to navigate the complexities of wealth, society, and virtue in 18th-century England, determined to honor her parents' legacy while facing t…
Level B2RomanceCecilia of the Pink RosesIn a sweltering tenement, young Cecilia struggles to care for her ailing mother and mischievous brother amid harsh poverty and broken dreams.
Level B2RomanceCavanagh, Forest Ranger: A Romance of the Mountain WestReturning to the rugged mountain West, a woman confronts the clash between old frontier life and the encroaching modern world, embodied by a forest ranger navigating both the wilde…
Level B2RomanceCavalry Curt; Or, The Wizard Scout of the ArmyA fearless Union scout races through enemy lines in war-torn Georgia, defying capture with daring skill and unyielding spirit.
Level C1RomanceCastle RichmondAmid the backdrop of the Irish famine, a complex tale unfolds featuring cunning rogues and steadfast priests, exploring the harsh realities and resilient spirits of 19th-century Ir…
Level C1RomanceCastle Hohenwald: A RomanceAt a grand spring ball, a delicate Assessor navigates the lively company of young officers while a mysterious young woman, radiant yet sorrowful, captures the gaze of Count Styrum,…
Level B2RomanceCastle CraneycrowA sharp-witted gentleman catches a burglar in the act but surprises him with unexpected hospitality, sparking a curious alliance.
Level B2RomanceCartoucheIn sunlit Florence, a spirited black poodle named Cartouche stirs up lively mischief in a quaint English-style garden, where a young Englishman returns to find warmth, chaos, and u…
Level C1RomanceCaravans By Night: A Romance of IndiaIn the bustling bazaars of India, a proud silk merchant’s life is shaken by a lost talisman and deep-seated rivalries, while a mysterious encounter with two strangers stirs a web o…
Level C1RomanceCaptain Ravenshaw; Or, The Maid of Cheapside. A Romance of Elizabethan LondonIn Elizabethan London, a stirring romance unfolds amid the bustling streets and vivid characters of a bygone era, where imagination breathes life into history and passion ignites i…
Level C1RomanceCaptain Kyd; or, The Wizard of the Sea. Vol. IIAs a noble party embarks on a graceful yacht bound for adventure, unexpected reunions and tender farewells set the stage for a romance on the high seas filled with gallantry, secre…
Level C1RomanceCaptain Kyd; or, The Wizard of the Sea. Vol. IOn the rugged Irish coast, a grand archery fête unfolds at Castle Cor, setting the stage for a dramatic romance filled with noble rivalries, ancient customs, and the stirring begin…
Level C1RomanceCapt'n Davy's HoneymoonNewlyweds Capt’n Davy and Ellen clash over money and the invisible barrier of education that threatens their love.
Level C1RomanceCapricious CarolineAs a motorcar journey through misty, windswept landscapes unfolds, Camilla Lancing savors a rare escape from life's cares, while Rupert Haverford tends to her with quiet devotion—y…
Level B2RomanceCap'n Abe, Storekeeper: A Story of Cape CodTorn between stifling expectations and the call of the sea, young Louise faces a summer with her austere Aunt Euphemia or the enigmatic Cap’n Abe, her mother’s mysterious half-brot…
Level C1RomanceCan You Forgive Her?Caught between family expectations and social ambitions, Alice Vavasor navigates love and loyalty amid the rigid class structures of Victorian England, where fortunes and reputatio…
Level C1RomanceCameron of LochielA young Scottish exile navigates love and loyalty amid the fading traditions and shifting allegiances of old French Canada, where patriotism, family devotion, and cultural pride sh…
Level C1RomanceCaleb TrenchIn a genteel drawing-room, a proud young woman confronts Caleb Trench, the humble village shopkeeper who insists on returning six cents of owed change in person—an encounter that s…
Level B2RomanceBy the World Forgot: A Double Romance of the East and WestA passionate clash of love and duty unfolds as a woman refuses to marry the man she does not love, torn between her heart’s desire and a promise bound by honor.
Level C1MysteryBy Wit of WomanA disgraced colonel, wrongly accused of murder and imprisoned for years, leaves a secret legacy to his daughter Christabel—challenging her to uncover the truth and restore their fa…
Level C1RomanceBy Neva's watersAt a Berlin state ball in 1801, English Viscount Wilfrid Courtenay, a chivalrous adventurer and artist, reunites with his Russian friend Prince Ouvaroff amid rising political tensi…
Level B2RomanceBy Blow and Kiss: The Love Story of a Man with a Bad Name.: (Published serially under the title Unstable as Water).In a parched, sunbaked land, a group of rugged men brace for the grueling task of moving sheep to scarce pastures, while tensions simmer over the demands of survival and the secret…
Level C1RomanceBy Berwen BanksIn a sleepy Welsh town, Caradoc Wynne returns home burdened by family secrets and a restless heart, as the lingering shadows of his past and the quiet rhythms of Berwen Banks set t…
Level C1RomanceBurning SandsIn the sultry heat of Cairo, Lady Muriel Blair navigates society’s expectations and the complexities of her new life as the Residency’s mistress, where romance and intrigue simmer…
Level C1RomanceBurgo's RomanceIn the lush conservatory of a London house, Burgo Brabazon wrestles with love and rivalry as he vies for Clara Leslie’s heart amid society’s intrigues and competing suitors.
Level C1RomanceBulldog And Butterfly: From "Schwartz" by David Christie MurrayIn the quiet English countryside of 1850, Bertha Fellowes navigates life at the weathered Oak House, balancing rustic charm with a tender, resolute spirit amid the rhythms of rural…
Level B2RomanceBuffalo Bill's still huntCaught between rising waters and perilous roads, a daring young Spanish girl and a nun must brave the swollen Rio Grande in a carriage, facing danger head-on in a wild frontier adv…
Level C2FantasyBubbles of the FoamJourney through an ancient Indian landscape where the Desert’s shifting mirages reflect life’s illusions and love’s fleeting ecstasies, revealing a world where reality blurs into d…
Level B2RomanceBrownie's triumphAt the bustling 1876 World’s Centennial Exposition, spirited Brownie Douglas navigates contrasts of wealth, wit, and unexpected encounters, including a charming mishap with a count…
Level C1RomanceBothwell; or, The Days of Mary Queen of Scots, Volume 2 (of 3)Amid courtly intrigue and shifting loyalties, the dashing Earl of Bothwell pledges fierce allegiance to Queen Mary, navigating love, power, and rivalry in turbulent Scotland.
Level C1RomanceBothwell; or, The Days of Mary Queen of Scots, Volume 1 (of 3)In the turbulent autumn of 1566, amid Norway's stormy seas and the shadow of political unrest, the fate of Mary Queen of Scots intertwines with daring voyages, secret rivalries, an…
Level B2RomanceBorrowed feathersLeft to manage a large, lonely house with only a deaf servant for company, spirited Annette’s world brightens when her godmother arrives unexpectedly, promising companionship and s…
Level C1RomanceBohemians of the Latin QuarterDive into the vibrant world of the Latin Quarter, where artists and poets embrace a bohemian life of passion, poverty, and creativity, tracing their rich lineage from ancient Greec…
Level C1RomanceBlue-grass and BroadwayA determined Broadway producer and a resourceful Kentucky woman join forces amidst the high-stakes, dazzling world of theatrical productions, chasing success and survival under the…
Level C1RomanceBlue-Bird WeatherIn the shadowy marshlands of a remote Southern island, a weary man arrives to reclaim a fading duck club, guided by a taciturn boy and greeted by a mysterious young woman—where nat…
Level C1RomanceBlowing weatherReturning to his childhood streets turned bustling trade hub, a young man navigates the docks and warehouses to meet a mysterious merchant tied to distant ports and rare goods.
Level C1RomanceBlow The Man Down: A Romance Of The CoastA captain aboard a luxurious yacht wrestles with an overwhelming, forbidden passion that breaks through his disciplined reserve, risking honor and sanity in a sudden, reckless embr…