CEFR C1 · Advanced
Read Advanced Classics in English (C1)
858 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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Level C1MysteryStories of MysteryIn the shadowed streets of Boston's Beacon Hill, a mysterious ghost lingers, its mournful presence tied to forgotten wrongs and untold secrets.
Level C1MysteryStolen SoulsIn the icy heart of St.
Level C1MysteryStolen IdolsAmidst silent, swampy rivers, a fierce river pirate holds a foreign prisoner destined for a deadly fate, but a mysterious trader with Maxim guns challenges his authority and questi…
Level C1MysterySplashes of redIn the thrilling world of rodeo competitions, Millie Wayne navigates fierce rivalries and shifting loyalties as Curly Bratton’s attention turns to a glamorous newcomer, sparking te…
Level C1MysterySpecial Detective (Ashton-Kirk)A young detective with keen intellect and a taste for the unusual tackles a perplexing case involving an ancient friend's perilous entanglement with a powerful Mexican family.
Level C1MysterySons and FathersTwo men, embodying contrasting worlds and destinies, converge at a quiet Gulf station amid a tense quarantine.
Level C1MysterySomewhere in FranceA cunning German spy with a tangled past infiltrates French society, trading secrets and manipulating loyalties as war looms.
Level C1MysterySome Adventures of Mr. Surelock KeysStep into the curious world of Mr.
Level C1MysterySnow-blindA cryptic radio message to a distant Royal Canadian Mounted Police sergeant unexpectedly reaches Kitchener Tearl in New York, stirring memories of his family's mysterious past in t…
Level C1MysterySlighted loveA young woman with dark, mysterious beauty uncovers her mother’s tragic past—a murder accusation that shattered their lives and left them branded outcasts.
Level C1MysterySimonA solitary, secretive man undertakes a covert journey through desolate moors and a quiet town, carefully avoiding recognition while harboring a mysterious purpose.
Level C1MysterySilent guestsA young lawyer’s quest to uncover the fate of a missing English heir leads him deep into the Canadian wilderness, where eerie warnings and a sinister estate named Craighead Hall hi…
Level C1MysterySidonia, the Sorceress : the Supposed Destroyer of the Whole Reigning Ducal House of Pomerania — Volume 2In 17th-century Pomerania, Sidonia, a feared sorceress confined to a convent, faces accusations, dark plots, and deadly conflicts as she confronts witchcraft trials and political i…
Level C1MysterySeven Keys to BaldpateA chance encounter at a desolate railway station pulls a cynical writer into a mysterious woman's sorrow, setting the stage for a suspenseful tale where secrets unfold behind locke…
Level C1MysterySecret Service; or, Recollections of a City DetectiveIn a decaying borough rife with bribery and corruption, a seasoned city detective navigates the murky world of electioneering, uncovering the sordid tactics behind political power…
Level C1MysteryScarhaven KeepWhen the punctual star of a theatrical company mysteriously fails to appear for rehearsal, a nervous young playwright finds himself caught in unexpected intrigue behind the scenes,…
Level C1MysterySaved from herselfA neglected daughter escapes her cold, scheming mother’s shadow to explore the vibrant streets of London, risking exposure and scandal as she seeks freedom and her own place in a w…
Level C1MysterySant of the Secret Service: Some Revelations of Spies and SpyingIn the shadowy world of espionage during wartime Europe, a daring secret agent races to uncover a hidden enemy submarine base off the Spanish coast, enlisting the help of a brillia…
Level C1MysterySamuel Boyd of Catchpole Square: A MysteryIn a decayed London mansion, Samuel Boyd ruthlessly collects debts amid relics of lost grandeur.
Level C1MysterySalomy JaneIn a tense frontier standoff, two captured outlaws face a grim fate while Salomy Jane, a bold and enigmatic local beauty, defies expectations by forging a daring connection with on…
Level C1MysteryRunning the Gauntlet: A NovelIn the bustling heart of London’s legal world, two brothers run a unique law firm: one caters to the city’s elite, the other defends the desperate criminals lurking in shadowy cour…
Level C1MysteryRun to Earth: A NovelIn the shadowy taverns of 19th-century London’s Ratcliff Highway, a seasoned sea captain and his cunning clerk navigate perilous trade and hidden dangers.
Level C1MysteryRound the Fire StoriesDive into a chilling collection where the grotesque and mysterious unfold by the fireside, centered around Lionel Dacre's eerie Parisian house filled with occult lore and dark expe…
Level C1MysteryRoom Number 3, and Other Detective StoriesIn a remote tavern shadowed by ancient woods, a young woman’s strange description of Room Number 3 clashes with chilling reality, drawing a deputy sheriff and coroner into a perple…
Level C1MysteryRoom 13Imprisoned and branded a mug, Johnny Gray endures harsh days in a grim Dartmoor prison, surrounded by hardened criminals and whispers of a master forger known as young Legge.
Level C1MysteryRomance IslandA sudden inheritance transforms a struggling journalist into a yacht owner, thrusting him into a world of wealth and mystery.
Level C1MysteryRoland Yorke: A Sequel to "The Channings"Under the eerie glow of a bright moon, a solemn crowd gathers in a cathedral town to witness the burial of a mysterious gentleman in a hastily dug grave at a crossroads—sparking wh…
Level C1MysteryRedlaw, the half-breed; or, The tangled trail. A tale of the settlementsIn a frontier town plagued by counterfeit money and stock theft, a determined group forms a vigilance committee to uncover the hidden criminals.
Level C1MysteryRed acesA young man’s passionate love turns to suspicion when he discovers his mysterious lover meeting secretly with an older man, revealing hidden secrets and testing the trust between t…
Level C1MysteryRed MoneyA tense house party near Abbot's Wood is stirred when gypsies, suspected of local burglaries, become the focus of suspicion and a daring fortune-telling outing.
Level C1MysteryRed Masquerade: Being the Story of the Lone Wolf's DaughterAt a dreary auction, a youthful art collector with a sharp eye for hidden treasures uncovers more than just dusty relics, drawn into a world where secrets and scandal mingle with p…
Level C1MysteryRecollections of a PolicemanA detective in London’s police force is tasked with uncovering a cunning gang of swindlers and forgers, navigating high society and hidden dangers to bring justice to a young victi…
Level C1MysteryRecalled to LifeA young woman awakens from a mysterious amnesia, haunted by a vivid memory of her father's murder and a shadowy figure escaping through a window.
Level C1MysteryRavensdene CourtAn expert in ancient books is invited to a remote Northumbrian manor to catalog a chaotic collection amassed over centuries.
Level C1MysteryRamshackle HouseOn a crumbling Chesapeake estate, spirited Pen Broome battles neglect and decay while managing her father's failing homestead, confronting simmering tensions and the relentless dem…
Level C1MysteryRaffles: Further Adventures of the Amateur CracksmanA down-on-his-luck writer answers a mysterious ad for a male nurse to care for an elderly gentleman, stepping into a world of secrets and unexpected adventures that blur the line b…
Level C1MysteryR. Holmes & Co.: Being the Remarkable Adventures of Raffles Holmes, Esq., Detective and Amateur Cracksman by BirthOn a scorching August night, a mysterious figure stealthily climbs fire escapes, sparking curiosity and suspense.
Level C1MysteryQuintus Oakes: A Detective StoryOn a scorching summer evening, an unexpected hero saves a young girl from a burning building, only to vanish into the bustling streets of Broadway.
Level C1MysteryPriscilla's SpiesA celebrated schoolboy athlete and scholar embarks on a summer fishing trip in the wild west of Ireland, where his impeccable reputation and leadership may soon be tested beyond th…
Level C1MysteryPresent at a Hanging and Other Ghost StoriesWhen a mysterious peddler vanishes after visiting a suspicious old man’s isolated farm, a local minister encounters an eerie apparition that leads to a chilling discovery beneath a…
Level C1MysteryPolice!!!A man flees the New York police, his mind racing with thoughts on science, art, and society while pursued through the city.
Level C1MysteryPoison shadowsIn the glittering world of high society, a desperate countess schemes to secure a wealthy marriage for her stubborn ward, entangling love, money, and deception along the Belgian co…
Level C1MysteryPocket Island: A Story of Country Life in New EnglandTwo unlikely partners—a cunning Polish peddler and a roaming Micmac Indian—form a smuggling alliance, using a haunted, trap-laden island with a secret sea cave to hide their illici…
Level C1MysteryPhineas ReduxIn the heated aftermath of a turbulent general election, political rivalries ignite as parties vie for control amid shifting alliances and bitter battles over power.
Level C1MysteryPharos, The Egyptian: A RomanceA mysterious visitor arrives bearing an urgent message from Cyril Forrester, a man caught between sanity and supernatural experience tied to his late Egyptologist father's legacy.
Level C1MysteryPeter Ruff and the Double FourA seemingly ordinary supper party at Daisy Villa conceals the beginnings of a gripping tale where appearances deceive and hidden identities spark a mystery that will change lives f…
Level C1MysteryPerlycross: A Tale of the Western HillsIn the tranquil village of Perlycross, a devoted curate and a battle-hardened squire navigate the delicate balance of duty, faith, and friendship in a changing world.
Level C1MysteryPeachmonkA mysterious red lily and cryptic message thrust Lady Evelyn into a web of secrets and intrigue, prompting a daring investigation involving séances, secret rendezvous, and shadowy…