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 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 C2FantasyThe Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga); with Excerpts from the Poetic EddaAncient Norse legends unfold with heroes, gods, and deadly swords in a saga that traces the rise and fall of the Volsung family, weaving fate, betrayal, and fierce battles in a sta…
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 B2RomanceThe Story and Song of Black RoderickA proud and brooding earl marries to unite clans, yet his cold heart turns away from the young bride who longs for love.
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 B2RomanceThe Star of IndiaIn the sweltering heat of 1857 India, an assistant surgeon embarks on a perilous journey to Delhi, navigating political intrigue and ancient rivalries.
Level B2RomanceThe Squire's DaughterAn imperious young woman’s command sparks a clash with a proud country youth, igniting tensions between social classes and challenging their assumptions in a spirited rural encount…
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 B2RomanceThe Squaw Man: A NovelA young man prepares to leave his ancestral home for distant India, caught between family loyalty and the cold ambitions of his aunt and cousin.
Level C1RomanceThe Squatter and the Don: A Novel Descriptive of Contemporary Occurrences in CaliforniaAs Mr.
Level B2MysteryThe Splendid OutcastWounded and recovering from a brutal battle, Jim Horton grapples with fractured memories and a startling identity confusion involving his cowardly twin brother.
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 B2RomanceThe Songs of a Sentimental BlokeA rough yet tender-hearted bloke navigates the struggles of working-class life, yearning for love and a better future amidst the vibrant streets and fleeting joys of springtime.
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 B2RomanceThe Snake's PassAmid towering mountains and a wild Atlantic coast, a sudden storm stirs a remote valley where nature’s fierce beauty conceals secrets and romance.
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 B2RomanceThe Skeleton On Round Island: From "Mackinac And Lake Stories", 1899Amid the perilous thawing ice of Mackinac Strait, a brave man agrees to escort a determined woman across treacherous frozen waters, only to confront a haunting skeleton on Round Is…
Level B2RomanceThe Sin of Monsieur Antoine, Volume 2 (of 2) and Leone LeoniPassion and secrecy intertwine as Emile confesses his love for Gilberte, sparking tension between social classes and hidden dangers at Châteaubrun.
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 B2RomanceThe Silent BattleLost deep in the Canadian wilderness, Gallatin faces hunger, exhaustion, and the haunting silence of the forest—until a mysterious, frightened girl appears, sparking an unexpected…
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 B2RomanceThe Shadow of the CzarA daring British captain, restless in peacetime, embarks on a solitary journey through the wild Dalmatian forests, seeking adventure and the unknown—where danger and romance await…
Level B2RomanceThe Shadow of a SinA handsome young man awaits his mysterious love by a wild heather bank, but her weary heart and shadowed past cast a somber mood over their meeting.
Level B2RomanceThe Shadow of Victory: A Romance of Fort DearbornIn a remote frontier trading-post battered by winter winds, a young man returns home to teach and uphold honor amid the rugged life and complex alliances at Fort Dearborn, where th…
Level B2RomanceThe Seven DarlingsSeven siblings, once wealthy, face sudden poverty after their father's death and must confront the challenge of preserving their grand Adirondack camp while redefining their future…
Level B2RomanceThe Senator's FavoriteA spirited sixteen-year-old determined to attend the grand Inauguration Ball challenges her family's protective rules, stirring laughter and tension in a household where youthful d…