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 city of beautiful nonsenseIn the quiet shadows of Lincoln's Inn Fields, a tender romance unfolds on the eve of St.
Level B2RomanceThe city in the seaA young writer in post-war London struggles to find his place amid the bustling streets and fading romance, until a mysterious submerged city promises adventure beyond the ordinary…
Level C1RomanceThe circuit riderIn a rugged frontier wilderness, a determined circuit rider braves dangers from wild revels to highwaymen, bringing order and faith to a chaotic land.
Level B2RomanceThe cableA spirited girl with fiery red hair races through the city, delighting a playful band of street boys with toffee treats as she balances mischief and kindness in a bustling urban wo…
Level B2RomanceThe bride's fate: The sequel to "The changed brides"A young mother finds unexpected refuge and affection in the home of General Lyon, where her love for her child and the bonds of a new family offer solace after painful loss.
Level B2RomanceThe breath of slanderIn a sleepy Pennsylvania mountain village basking in an unprecedented early spring, a determined young traveler sets out on a mysterious mountain path that promises more than just…
Level B2MysteryThe black cat, vol. I, no. 7, April 1896An ocean liner laden with thirty million dollars in gold embarks on a perilous voyage amid storms and intrigue, sparking fears of daring conspiracies and a gripping mystery at sea.
Level C1RomanceThe adventurous ladyIn the chaotic aftermath of war, a composed young woman in a fur coat navigates a bustling train station teeming with diverse travelers, determined to reach her destination beyond…
Level C1RomanceThe adventures of Hatim Taï, a romanceFollow the legendary Hatim Taï, a chivalrous Arabian chief renowned for unmatched bravery, wisdom, and generosity, as he embarks on thrilling adventures filled with heroic deeds, n…
Level B2RomanceThe adventures of Alphonso and Marina: An Interesting Spanish TaleIn Granada, the beautiful heiress Marina and dashing captain Alphonso share secret letters and moonlit lattice rendezvous, while her greedy guardian schemes to force her into a lov…
Level C1RomanceThe Youth of the Great ElectorAmid political turmoil and looming war, Elector George William confronts rebellious demands from the duchy of Cleves, testing his authority and resolve.
Level C1RomanceThe Younger Sister: A Novel, Volumes 1-3In a village shadowed by loss and neglect, the youngest daughter, Emma, returns home after her aunt’s scandalous marriage disrupts family fortunes.
Level C1RomanceThe Younger Sister: A Novel, Vol. III.As Margaret anxiously awaits her lover's return, hidden tensions and complex emotions simmer beneath the surface of family and romance.
Level C1RomanceThe Younger Sister: A Novel, Vol. II.Tensions rise in the Watson family as the arrival of the spirited Penelope disrupts their quiet life and stirs rivalry over invitations, friendships, and social standing—setting th…
Level C1RomanceThe Younger Sister: A Novel, Vol. I.A once-respected clergyman’s family faces hardship after his wife’s death and a contentious inheritance leaves the youngest daughter, Emma, caught between loyalty and loss amid shi…
Level B2RomanceThe Younger SetA man’s honor and career are shattered by a merciless divorce scandal, yet he remains dignified and silent while society whispers its cruel judgments.
Level C1FantasyThe Young Lovell: A RomanceA young lord keeps a midnight vigil in an ancient chapel, wrestling with haunting visions of demons, spirits, and ancient gods vying for his soul before his knighting at dawn.
Level C1RomanceThe Young Enchanted: A Romantic StoryA young man navigating the bustling chaos of Piccadilly Circus dreams of grandeur but faces the harsh realities of loneliness and ridicule.
Level C1RomanceThe Young DukeA young duke inherits vast wealth and estates but finds himself caught between the influence of a devoted guardian and the scheming ambitions of his aristocratic relatives, setting…
Level C1RomanceThe Yellow Frigate; or, The Three SistersIn 15th-century Scotland, three sisters’ intertwined fates unfold against a backdrop of royal intrigue, seafaring adventure, and ancient ruins.
Level C1RomanceThe Yates Pride: A RomanceIn a small town buzzing with gossip, the enigmatic Miss Eudora Yates stirs curiosity with her mysterious choices and quiet strength.
Level B2MysteryThe Wyvern mysteryA young woman journeys to Wyvern under the watchful eye of the old Squire Fairfield, carrying secrets and tangled thoughts she struggles to share.
Level C1FantasyThe World of Romance: being Contributions to The Oxford and Cambridge Magazine, 1856Step into a vanished medieval world where a master mason reflects on the lost church he built centuries ago, surrounded by vibrant autumn landscapes and the daily lives of monks an…
Level C1RomanceThe World for Sale, Volume 3.A blind man’s keen senses and indomitable spirit inspire a devoted woman who nurses him back to health amidst the quiet wilderness.
Level C1RomanceThe World for Sale, Volume 2.In a tense frontier town, a shrewd horsedealer uncovers a dangerous plot involving labor strikes and sabotage, where loyalties blur and the stakes are life, death, and the fate of…
Level C1RomanceThe World for Sale, Volume 1.In a transformative Western frontier where railways and towns reshape the wilderness, a visionary young man confronts entrenched divisions between progress and tradition.
Level C1RomanceThe World for Sale, CompleteIn a rapidly transforming Western frontier town, a visionary young man confronts fierce cultural and racial tensions as he strives to unite divided communities.
Level B2RomanceThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 20A French prisoner of war navigates life inside Edinburgh Castle during the Napoleonic Wars, using wit, language skills, and charm to survive captivity and forge unexpected friendsh…
Level B2RomanceThe Wooing of Calvin ParksCalvin Parks returns to a familiar farmhouse only to find his old friends changed by loss and mystery—Sam's mother has passed away, and Sim's strange illness puzzles everyone.
Level C1RomanceThe Woodman: A Romance of the Times of Richard IIIUnder the pale moonlight of a battlefield long silent, a small group searches among fallen warriors, revealing a world where tender affections stir amidst the shadows of civil war…
Level C1RomanceThe WoodlandersAmid the shadowy woodlands and quiet lanes of rural England, a city stranger seeks the elusive village of Little Hintock, encountering local characters and the mysterious rhythms o…
Level B2RomanceThe Wood King; or, Daniel Boone's last trailAmidst the untamed Osage wilderness, a seasoned hunter witnesses a desperate chase between rival tribes, where survival hinges on cunning, courage, and the secrets hidden along the…
Level C1FantasyThe Wonderful Adventures of Phra the PhoenicianA Phoenician merchant embarks on a mystical journey through time, experiencing multiple lives across ancient and medieval eras, each shaped by adventure, love, and transformation.
Level C1RomanceThe Woman of Knockaloe: A ParableIn a remote internment camp during wartime, twenty-five thousand men and one woman are confined within barbed wire, their lives unfolding in a poignant tale of love and humanity am…
Level C1RomanceThe Woman in the BazaarIn a remote English village clinging to old traditions, the vicar’s daughter tirelessly tends her garden and community, embodying resilience and quiet strength.
Level C1RomanceThe Wolfe of Badenoch: A Historical Romance of the Fourteenth CenturyAmidst political intrigue and fierce battles in 14th-century Scotland, knights and nobles navigate love, loyalty, and danger.
Level B2FantasyThe Wolf Demon; or, The Queen of the KanawhaIn the moonlit forests of the Ohio Valley, a fierce Shawnee warrior hunts a deer, unaware that a shadowy, deadly presence stalks him in return—an ancient demon marking its next vic…
Level C1RomanceThe Wiving of Lance CleaverageIn the sunlit Tennessee highlands, a vibrant young woman named Callista Gentry captivates a court of admirers, while the arrival of the contentious Lance Cleaverage promises to sti…
Level B2RomanceThe Wishing MoonAn eleven-year-old girl in a small town carries a mysterious birthmark and a secret burden tied to the powerful Everard family, as she embarks on a magical May night filled with wi…
Level B2RomanceThe Wishing CarpetA young girl discovers a mysterious Oriental rug known as the Wishing Carpet, stirring dreams and longing in her mother’s heart while weaving a tale of hope, family tensions, and t…
Level C1RomanceThe Wish: A NovelAmid the melancholic landscapes of East Prussia and the bustling life of Berlin, a poignant tale unfolds, exploring the eternal human nature through the intimate struggles and desi…
Level B2RomanceThe Winning of Barbara WorthIn a vast, desolate desert transformed by human will, a determined man journeys toward a distant frontier where survival means conquering nature itself—and where hearts and hopes a…
Level C1RomanceThe Wings of the MorningAs a typhoon approaches the China Sea, the spirited Iris Deane navigates societal expectations and secrets aboard the Sirdar, where danger and desire intertwine on a voyage home to…
Level C1RomanceThe Wings of the Dove, Volume IITwo lovers reunite in London, navigating societal constraints and hidden desires as they seek stolen moments of happiness amid the pressures of respectability and secrecy.
Level C1RomanceThe Wings of the Dove, Volume 1 of 2Kate Croy navigates a life shadowed by family decline and personal sacrifice, yearning to restore her tarnished family name amid the harsh realities of her confined world.
Level B2RomanceThe Window-GazerCaught in a mysterious coastal fog, Professor Spence encounters an enigmatic woman and a strange, ageless boy at a secluded wharf, setting the stage for an uncanny romance amid shi…
Level C1RomanceThe Winding StairA young man returns to England seeking answers about his estranged father's mysterious past, challenging a seasoned lawyer who once handled the elder Ravenel’s affairs.
Level C1RomanceThe Wild Irish Girl: A National TaleA disgraced son battles the consequences of youthful excess and a father’s stern hopes, as exile to an Irish estate offers a chance for redemption and unexpected romance amid clash…