CEFR C1 · Advanced
Read Advanced Classics in English (C1)
66 books graded at CEFR C1 (advanced) — 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 C1 books to read in English?
The best C1 books to read in English are well-known classics whose own language sits at that level — start with Émile Zola, Novelist and Reformer: An Account of His Life & Work, Æsop's Fables: A Version for Young Readers and Æsop's Fables, Embellished with One Hundred and Eleven Emblematical Devices.. Each is the complete book, labelled CEFR C1 (advanced), with tap-to-translate, narration and saved vocabulary, so you read a real story while building the English you actually meet in it.
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- books
| Title | Chapters | CEFR |
|---|---|---|
| Confessions of an English Opium-Eater | 7 | C1 |
| Checkmate | 88 | C1 |
| Carmilla | 17 | C1 |
| Caleb Williams; Or, Things as They Are | 48 | C1 |
| Barford Abbey, a Novel: In a Series of Letters | 46 | C1 |
| Auriol; or, The Elixir of Life | 31 | C1 |
| Anna St. Ives | 132 | C1 |
| Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American Tale | 3 | C1 |
| A Sicilian Romance | 17 | C1 |
| Dracula | 27 | C1 |
| Jane Eyre: An Autobiography | 38 | C1 |
| Lady Audley's Secret | 41 | C1 |
| The King in Yellow | 29 | C1 |
| The Monk: A Romance | 12 | C1 |
| The Mysteries of Udolpho | 57 | C1 |
| The Picture of Dorian Gray | 20 | C1 |
| The Woman in White | 53 | C1 |
| Wuthering Heights | 34 | C1 |
Level C1GothicConfessions of an English Opium-EaterA philosopher’s intimate account reveals the dark allure and torment of opium addiction, exploring the struggle between self-indulgence and self-conquest amid a society secretly bo…
Level C1MysteryCheckmateAmid the shadowed grandeur of Mortlake Hall, a mysterious figure named Longcluse watches a gathering where whispered talk of a brutal murder stirs unease.
Level C1FantasyCarmillaIn a remote Styrian castle surrounded by ancient forests and eerie ruins, a young woman recalls the strange and unsettling events that have haunted her solitary life—events that hi…
Level C1GothicCaleb Williams; Or, Things as They AreA young secretary uncovers a dark secret about his cultured employer, plunging him into a dangerous world of power, betrayal, and relentless pursuit.
Level C1GothicBarford Abbey, a Novel: In a Series of LettersA grieving ward is urged to leave her sorrow-filled home and join companions at Barford Abbey, where the shadows of loss and secrets linger in the gothic halls.
Level C1MysteryAuriol; or, The Elixir of LifeOn the cusp of a new century, a mysterious figure steals grisly trophies from London’s battlements, drawing the attention of Doctor Lamb, an enigmatic alchemist whose dark secrets…
Level C1GothicAnna St. IvesEmbark on a spirited journey through bustling cities and enchanting landscapes as a young woman anticipates reunion, romance, and unexpected intrigues during her travels from Engla…
Level C1GothicAlonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American TaleTwo young Yale graduates forge an unbreakable friendship amid the turmoil of the American Revolution, but when Alonzo steps in to escort Edgar’s sister Melissa, their lives intertw…
Level C1GothicA Sicilian RomanceIn a crumbling Sicilian castle, the noble Mazzini family’s dark past unfolds through tales of luxury, vice, and complex family dynamics.
Level C1HorrorDraculaLetters and journals trace a vampire's voyage from the Carpathians to London.
Level C1RomanceJane Eyre: An AutobiographyThe classic romance novel by Charlotte Brontë.
Level C1MysteryLady Audley's SecretThe classic mystery novel by M.
Level C1HorrorThe King in YellowThe classic mystery novel by Robert W.
Level C1HorrorThe Monk: A RomanceThe classic horror novel by M.
Level C1GothicThe Mysteries of UdolphoThe classic mystery novel by Ann Ward Radcliffe.
Level C1GothicThe Picture of Dorian GrayA portrait ages while its beautiful owner does not — Wilde’s only novel.
Level C1MysteryThe Woman in WhiteThe classic mystery novel by Wilkie Collins.
Level C1GothicWuthering HeightsThe classic gothic novel by Emily Brontë.