CEFR B2 · Upper-intermediate
Read Upper-intermediate Classics in English (B2)
1135 books graded at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate) — learn English by reading the stories worth reading at exactly your level. Tap any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration, and save the vocabulary you meet. Start with a free sample.
What are the best B2 books to read in English?
The best B2 books to read in English are well-known classics whose own language sits at that level — start with £19,000, Zula and Zoraida: A Romance of the Harem and the Great Sahara. Each is the complete book, labelled CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate), with tap-to-translate, narration and saved vocabulary, so you read a real story while building the English you actually meet in it.
- 1,135
- books
Level B2HistoricalThe Guns of Bull Run: A Story of the Civil War's EveAs winter snow blankets a Kentucky town on the eve of the Civil War, two cousins—one destined to fight for the South, the other for the North—face divided loyalties amid the brewin…
Level B2RomanceThe Grip of Honor: A Story of Paul Jones and the American RevolutionAmidst the stormy seas of the American Revolution, a daring captain and his loyal lieutenant chase a mysterious merchant ship near treacherous reefs, their pursuit fueled by honor,…
Level B2HistoricalThe Grey ManIn a land torn by clan rivalries, a father and son navigate the fiery siege of Ardstinchar Castle, caught between fierce factions and deadly suspicion.
Level B2RomanceThe Grey CloakIn the shadowy streets of Paris, a masked man in a grey cloak embarks on a perilous quest to steal a secret paper that could save his life and fortune, weaving intrigue, danger, an…
Level B2HistoricalThe Great White ArmyAs Napoleon's Grand Army marches triumphantly into Moscow, a veteran surgeon and his daring nephew navigate the city's eerie silence and unexpected dangers, uncovering mysteries th…
Level B2AdventureThe Great Sioux Trail: A Story of Mountain and PlainIn the tense frontier where plains meet mountains, a young soldier witnesses the fierce defiance of Red Cloud, the great Sioux war chief, who vows to bar the white settlers' advanc…
Level B2AdventureThe Great Quest: A romance of 1826, wherein are recorded the experiences of Josiah Woods of Topham, and of those others with whom he sailed for Cuba and the Gulf of GuineaIn the summer of 1826, Josiah Woods sets out from his quiet village, unaware that his routine errand will launch him into a wild sea voyage to Cuba and the Gulf of Guinea, filled w…
Level B2HistoricalThe Great Invasion of 1813-14; or, After Leipzig: Being a story of the entry of the allied forces into Alsace and Lorraine, and their march upon Paris after the Battle of Leipzig, called the Battle of the Kings and NationsAmid the serene village of Charmes in 1813, a shoemaker’s family faces the upheaval of the Allied invasion following the Battle of Leipzig.
Level B2HistoricalThe Gray DawnIn 1852 San Francisco, a sharp-witted gambler navigates a world of flashy young men, political intrigue, and rough frontier life.
Level B2AdventureThe Gorilla HuntersTwo old friends reunite with tales of adventure from the Pacific, but their reunion sparks a daring new plan that promises thrilling exploits and unexpected challenges.
Level B2AdventureThe Golden Harpoon; Or, Lost Among the Floes: A Story of the Whaling GroundsAnchored in a wild bay near icy Kamschatka, the crew of the Montpelier faces the looming threat of drifting ice while young Alice, carrying a golden harpoon, embarks on a daring wh…
Level B2AdventureThe Golden Dream: Adventures in the Far WestIn a dazzling cavern of pure gold, Ned Sinton discovers a strange society of golden people who celebrate the mysterious power of California.
Level B2AdventureThe Golden CanyonStranded and desperate, a group of adventurers races through harsh terrain in search of a legendary golden valley hidden within a treacherous canyon.
Level B2AdventureThe Gold Of FairnileeIn the haunting ruins of Fairnilee, young Randal grows up amid whispers of war, loss, and legends of fairies.
Level B2AdventureThe Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1008, April 22, 1899Caught in a desperate retreat through snow-covered mountains and relentless enemy pursuit, a young soldier battles hardship and danger while inspired by the unwavering resolve of h…
Level B2HistoricalThe Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 984, November 5, 1898Amid the Franco-English War, a young boy named Roy battles illness under the watchful care of a weary soldier and a mysterious, gentle girl scarred by smallpox.
Level B2AdventureThe Gilpins and their Fortunes: A Story of Early Days in AustraliaTwo brothers leave their English farming home to seek fortune and build a new life in bustling, young Sydney, Australia.
Level B2HistoricalThe German Lieutenant, and Other StoriesAmid the aftermath of the 1870 Battle of Sedan, a reserve lieutenant and geologist finds himself confined in a quaint French town, torn between the harsh realities of war and the s…
Level B2AdventureThe Gentleman: A Romance of the SeaA lone figure stands on the cliff’s edge, gazing across a moonlit sea that separates invaders from a stubborn island nation.
Level B2HistoricalThe Gayton Scholarship: A School StoryRivalry ignites among schoolboys competing for the prestigious Gayton Scholarship, with spirited races, unexpected mishaps, and the watchful eye of an important inspector setting t…
Level B2HistoricalThe Galley Slave's Ring; or, The Family of Lebrenn: A Tale of The French Revolution of 1848Amidst the turbulent days leading to the French Revolution of 1848, a humble linen draper and his Breton family navigate the clash of old and new principles sweeping Paris.
Level B2AdventureThe Fur-Seal's Tooth: A Story of Alaskan AdventureA spirited young athlete from New England, burdened by a careless streak, finds himself penniless and adrift in a foreign land.
Level B2AdventureThe Fur Bringers: A Story of the Canadian NorthwestTensions flare between two partners in the remote Canadian Northwest as the stirrings of June fever ignite restless tempers and uneasy alliances.
Level B2AdventureThe Fugitives: The Tyrant Queen of MadagascarThree fugitives race through Madagascar's perilous wilderness, pursued by deadly foes and forced to navigate treacherous cliffs and shattered paths.
Level B2RomanceThe Frontier Angel: A Romance of Kentucky Rangers' LifeIn a perilous frontier town near the Ohio River, young Marian Abbot prepares to journey westward on a flat-boat, leaving behind her beloved Russel Mansfield amid threats from reneg…
Level B2MysteryThe FrontierTensions rise as the German frontier post near the circus of the Butte-aux-Loups is repeatedly felled, hinting at brewing conflict.
Level B2HistoricalThe French TwinsIn war-torn Rheims, a devoted mother cleans her beloved cathedral while her twin children prepare for Confirmation, embodying the courage and hope of a family striving to protect t…
Level B2AdventureThe Free Rangers: A Story of the Early Days Along the MississippiIn the vast, untamed wilderness along the Mississippi, a skilled young woodsman known as Shif’less Sol embraces the wild, ready to protect his land and people amidst nature’s grand…
Level B2HistoricalThe Foundling of the WreckAmidst the treacherous storms near the fledgling city of St.
Level B2HistoricalThe Fortunes of Philippa: A School StorySent away from her tropical paradise to England for a proper education, Philippa faces the challenge of adapting to a new world, new customs, and the companions she’s never known—a…
Level B2AdventureThe Forest of Swords: A Story of Paris and the MarneAmid the thunder of advancing German guns, an American and a Frenchman face the looming fall of Paris, their spirits ignited by hope and defiance as history’s shadows and the ghost…
Level B2AdventureThe Forest Runners: A Story of the Great War Trail in Early KentuckyTwo boys brave the vast, untamed Kentucky wilderness, carrying a precious powder supply to defend their settlements from Indian attacks.
Level B2AdventureThe Flamingo FeatherYoung Réné de Veaux, orphaned and determined, joins his uncle’s daring expedition to the New World, embarking on a perilous voyage filled with mystery and adventure as they seek a…
Level B2HistoricalThe First Four Books of Xenophon's AnabasisAmidst royal intrigue and suspicion, Cyrus the Younger secretly assembles a formidable army, including seasoned Greek mercenaries, to challenge his brother Artaxerxes for the thron…
Level B2AdventureThe First Capture; or, Hauling Down the Flag of EnglandIn a small Maine fishing village, news of the Battle of Lexington sparks a fierce uprising as patriots prepare to confront the British army’s attempt to crush the rebellion and sei…
Level B2HistoricalThe FirebrandHunted and marked by violence, Ramon Garcia hides beneath the limestone cliffs, reflecting on a life transformed by love and bloodshed in a Spanish village alive with passion and d…
Level B2HistoricalThe Fighting Starkleys; or, The Test of CourageAmid the rugged life of Beaver Dam, the Starkley family’s resilience and courage are forged through hard work, close friendships, and the call to adventure, as young Dick and his s…
Level B2HistoricalThe Fighting ScrubA sixteen-year-old boy faces the painful farewell to his father as he arrives at a new school, where rivalry and harsh judgments await him.
Level B2AdventureThe Fiery Totem: A Tale of Adventure in the Canadian North-WestTwo young friends embark on a daring hunting expedition along the wild, swift currents of the Athabasca River, facing treacherous rapids and towering cliffs in the untamed Canadian…
Level B2AdventureThe Fate of a CrownAn American is summoned to serve as a trusted secretary to a Brazilian revolutionary leader amid a dangerous political conspiracy threatening the empire’s throne.
Level B2HistoricalThe False Chevalier: or, The Lifeguard of Marie AntoinetteA young French-Canadian fur trader's son embarks on a journey to Paris amid rising demand for beaver pelts, carrying his family's hopes and blessings.
Level B2AdventureThe Eyes of the Woods: A Story of the Ancient WildernessCaught in a fierce storm deep in the wilderness, a group of rugged frontiersmen huddle in a hidden cave, anxiously awaiting the return of two trusted comrades carrying precious amm…
Level B2AdventureThe Exploits of Brigadier GerardA dashing French cavalry officer recounts his thrilling campaigns across Europe during the Napoleonic Wars, blending the grit of battle with the gallantry of a soldier’s life.
Level B2HistoricalThe Errand Boy; Or, How Phil Brent Won SuccessCaught in a bitter family rivalry, Phil Brent faces harsh challenges from his stepbrother and stepmother while striving to carve out his own path in a snowy town.
Level B2FantasyThe Enchanted CastleThree siblings reunite for the holidays, eager to escape strict school rules and create their own adventures in the Hampshire countryside, where imaginative games and mysterious di…
Level B2AdventureThe Empire Makers: A Romance of Adventure and War in South AfricaThree courageous young men leave England for South Africa, where they face danger from the Transvaal Government and uncover an ancient hidden nation.
Level B2MysteryThe Eagle's eyeAmid secret codes and clandestine wireless messages, a German spy network in America plots deadly sabotage during World War I, with the sinking of the Lusitania as a chilling missi…
Level B2AdventureThe Eagle of the Empire: A Story of WaterlooAmid the looming shadows of Napoleon's final campaign, a stirring tale unfolds of love, courage, and the brutal realities of war.