CEFR C1 · Advanced
Read Advanced Classics in English (C1)
857 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.
- 857
- books
Level C1MysteryMan and MaidA sudden inheritance forces a reluctant man to return from a carefree holiday to an eerie family estate where he must confront an enigmatic cousin and a bizarre will that threatens…
Level C1MysteryMajor BarbaraIn a grand London home, a determined matriarch confronts her reluctant son about their complicated family and the surprising choices of her daughter Barbara, who has joined the Sal…
Level C1MysteryMademoiselle of Monte CarloAt Monte Carlo's infamous "Suicide’s Table," a striking woman known as Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo captivates gamblers with her extraordinary luck, while a young Englishman seeks h…
Level C1MysteryMadeline Payne, the Detective's DaughterRaised in loneliness and shadowed by cruelty, a young woman yearns for freedom and true happiness beyond her oppressive home.
Level C1MysteryM. or N. "Similia similibus curantur."Amid a stormy Channel night, a haunted Englishman wanders Calais sands, burdened by grief and desperate memories of love, loss, and reckless devotion.
Level C1MysteryLucretia — CompleteIn a dark tale of family secrets and moral struggle, a woman named Lucretia confronts the haunting influence of wealth and impatience on human character, revealing how early circum…
Level C1MysteryLucius Davoren; or, Publicans and sinners, vol. 3Amidst the lush gardens and genteel society of an English fête, a restless man wrestles with jealousy and discontent, haunted by love lost and a dark past.
Level C1MysteryLove and hatredIn a tangled web of friendship and unspoken desires, a sudden confession of love shatters the delicate balance between Laura, her husband Godfrey, and his enigmatic friend Oliver,…
Level C1MysteryLost Sir Massingberd: A Romance of Real Life. v. 2/2A young man navigates the dark intrigues surrounding the enigmatic Sir Massingberd, whose ruthless nature and shadowy past cast a sinister pall over Fairburn Hall and its loyal yet…
Level C1MysteryLost Sir Massingberd: A Romance of Real Life. v. 1/2In a quiet midland village ruled by the feared Sir Massingberd Heath, a young pupil under the local rector recalls the dark shadow cast by this ruthless despot.
Level C1MysteryLost Man's Lane: A Second Episode in the Life of Amelia ButterworthA woman of principle and keen intellect reluctantly returns to detective work when a perplexing case of mysterious disappearances haunts a remote mountain village.
Level C1MysteryLife and Confession of Sophia Hamilton: Who was Tried, Condemned and Sentenced to be Hung, at Montreal, L. C. on the 4th of August, 1845, for the Perpetration of the Most Shocking Murders and Daring Robberies Perhaps Recorded in the Annals of CrimeIn a tightly knit community, Sophia Hamilton faces trial for chilling murders and audacious robberies that defy societal norms, revealing a dark tale of crime, moral collapse, and…
Level C1MysteryLaughing Bill Hyde and Other StoriesA cunning ex-convict with a sharp wit and a knack for mischief escapes his past and embarks on a restless journey through the American West, using charm and trickery to survive in…
Level C1MysteryLanagan, Amateur DetectiveA seasoned San Francisco police reporter with unparalleled access to law enforcement and underworld figures navigates a tangled web of crime, corruption, and courtroom intrigue, us…
Level C1MysteryKitty Alone: A Story of Three Fires (vol. 3 of 3)A man haunted by crime and misfortune races against fate to secure his inheritance while grappling with guilt and suspicion.
Level C1MysteryKerfol: 1916A solitary visitor explores the eerie, ancient estate of Kerfol in Brittany, drawn by its haunting silence and mysterious tombs.
Level C1MysteryKastle Krags: A Story of MysteryIn the shadowed, moss-draped forests along the slow-moving Ochakee River, a mysterious gloom lingers over the wildlife and ancient lands.
Level C1MysteryKarl GrierA man with a mysterious sixth sense, Karl Grier navigates a world where his extraordinary mental powers clash with skeptical science and societal norms.
Level C1MysteryJonah's LuckA weary traveler, burdened by unseen troubles, stumbles upon a remote inn shrouded in fog and mystery.
Level C1MysteryJohnny Ludlow, Sixth SeriesA determined group sets off to surprise a friend by renting her seaside drawing-room, only to find themselves lost in a mysterious place called Montpellier-by-Sea—an agricultural e…
Level C1MysteryJohnny Ludlow, Second SeriesWhen a fifty-pound cheque vanishes during a tense market-day negotiation, Johnny Ludlow finds himself entangled in a perplexing mystery involving family ties, rivalries, and hidden…
Level C1MysteryJohn Silence, Physician ExtraordinaryA physician with extraordinary psychic abilities tackles baffling cases that defy ordinary medicine, exploring the mysterious forces behind unseen afflictions and the fragile bound…
Level C1MysteryJewel Mysteries, from a Dealer's Note BookOn a gloomy day in Piccadilly, a mysterious man arrives at a jeweler’s shop, unveiling an extraordinary opal of dazzling beauty and intrigue.
Level C1MysteryJessica Trent: Her Life on a RanchA spirited horseback chase through narrow canyon trails leads a stranger to the remote Sobrante ranch, where he meets Jessica Trent, a fearless rider who shares her unique life amo…
Level C1MysteryJesse James' Desperate Game; Or, The Robbery of the Ste. Genevieve BankIn a lively Missouri spring town where danger lurks beneath carefree revelry, three sharply dressed outlaws led by Jesse James blend into the crowd, plotting a daring $10,000 bank…
Level C1MysteryJennie Baxter, JournalistA determined young journalist uses her charm and wit to secure a coveted position at a bustling metropolitan newspaper, navigating the cutthroat world of journalism and ambition.
Level C1MysteryJean of the Lazy AAt the Lazy A ranch, sixteen-year-old Jean’s cheerful morning routines mask an imminent disaster that will shatter the peace of her home and those she loves.
Level C1MysteryJason: A RomanceIn the fragrant dusk of Paris, Ste.
Level C1MysteryJacob's LadderA once-cheerful man faces the crushing humiliation of bankruptcy and social exile, struggling to maintain dignity amid cold glances and silent creditors.
Level C1MysteryJack Sheppard: A RomanceIn the grim streets of early 18th-century London, a destitute widow and her infant son struggle to survive after the execution of her notorious husband.
Level C1MysteryJ. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 5In the wild moorlands of Northumbria, an eerie encounter with a mysterious stranger sets in motion a tale of dark magic, lost love, and superstition.
Level C1MysteryJ. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 3: The Haunted Baronet (1871)In the mist-shrouded town of Golden Friars, old legends and uneasy whispers surround the return of the haunted baronet to his ancestral home by the lake.
Level C1MysteryJ. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 2A family moves into a modern seaside house only to encounter eerie, unexplained phenomena that unsettle both them and their servants.
Level C1MysteryJ. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 1In a dimly lit chamber, a young painter obsessed with his craft falls deeply in love with his master's niece, only to face a mysterious interruption that blurs the line between pas…
Level C1MysteryIt Might Have Happened OtherwiseTrapped in a dull job as a remote station agent, Parsly’s restless mind fixates on the temptation of stealing the money he handles daily.
Level C1MysteryIsrael RankIn the bleak streets of Ursula Grove, a chilling mystery unfolds as a family’s modest life is shadowed by secrets and the unsettling question: does murder truly always come to ligh…
Level C1MysteryInto the Highways and HedgesCaught between a stern guardian and her devoted father, young Margaret Deane navigates a world of wealth, family secrets, and conflicting ideals.
Level C1MysteryInitials OnlyOn a snowy Broadway night, a mysterious man’s strange behavior sparks curiosity just before a sudden alarm at the Clermont Hotel reveals a shocking event involving a wealthy woman.
Level C1MysteryIn the Onyx LobbyIn the elegant Campanile apartment, a fierce family feud between two women unfolds amid the ambitions of Sir Herbert Binney, who hopes to launch the famed Binney’s Buns in America,…
Level C1MysteryIn the Mayor's ParlourIn a timeless English market town, the ancient Moot Hall stands as a fortress of history and secrets.
Level C1MysteryIn the FogIn the exclusive Grill Club, where tradition demands camaraderie among strangers, four men gather on the night after the great London fog of 1897, sparking a mysterious conversatio…
Level C1MysteryIn the Dead of Night: A Novel. Volume 2 (of 3)Tensions rise as Edward Cope reluctantly prepares to leave for New York under his father's watchful eye, while a delicate romance with Jane Culpepper hangs in the balance amid soci…
Level C1MysteryIn the Dead of NightA man returns to New York after ten years, navigating the dazzling, relentless pulse of Broadway while haunted by past struggles and the tantalizing promise of a mysterious fortune…
Level C1MysteryIn a Glass Darkly, v. 3/3A sinister count and a cold-hearted countess conspire in a shadowy room, unfolding a tense drama of hidden treasures and dark intentions.
Level C1MysteryIn a Glass Darkly, v. 2/3A young Englishman traveling through post-Napoleonic Europe encounters a mysterious noblewoman veiled in black, whose gratitude and gaze hint at secrets beneath her elegant exterio…
Level C1MysteryIn a Glass Darkly, v. 1/3A mysterious clergyman suffers sudden, inexplicable collapses during his sacred duties, prompting a curious physician to unravel the strange affliction haunting him between his Lon…
Level C1MysteryIn White RaimentA respected London doctor hides a secret as he unravels a series of strange, startling events amid the city's stark contrasts of wealth and poverty.
Level C1MysteryIn SecretAmid the silent tension of a secretive decoding office, a young woman uncovers a mysterious coded letter that could unravel hidden dangers and shift the fate of war.