CEFR C1 · Advanced
Read Advanced Classics in English (C1)
394 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 C1MysteryThe Allen House; Or, Twenty Years Ago and NowA dedicated doctor braves a relentless storm to save a feverish baby, revealing the weight of duty amid life's harsh choices and lingering regrets.
Level C1MysteryThe Albert Gate Mystery: Being Further Adventures of Reginald Brett, Barrister DetectiveWhen a mysterious crime unfolds at an Albert Gate mansion housing Turkish dignitaries and secretive diamond experts, barrister-detective Reginald Brett is drawn into a web of intri…
Level C1MysteryThe Air PirateIn a world where air piracy once threatened the skies, the Chief Commissioner of the British Air Police confronts a new, urgent mystery that could unravel the fragile peace of tran…
Level C1MysteryThe Agony ColumnIn sweltering London on the brink of war, an American man becomes captivated by the mysterious personal notices in the newspaper’s Agony Column, where secret messages of love, intr…
Level C1MysteryThe Affair at the Semiramis HotelWhen the elusive Mr.
Level C1MysteryThe Adventures of Jimmie DaleIn the heart of New York’s elite St.
Level C1MysteryThe Abandoned RoomIn a gloomy ancestral mansion, a young woman senses a sinister presence as her reclusive uncle grows fearful before his mysterious death, while her troubled cousin drifts into a da…
Level C1MysteryThat Mainwaring AffairIn the sweltering offices of a New York brokerage, Hugh Mainwaring prepares to finalize a will that will shift loyalties and fortunes within his estranged English-American family—s…
Level C1MysteryThat Affair Next DoorOn a quiet Gramercy Park night, a mysterious visit to an empty house sparks suspicion and intrigue.
Level C1MysteryTerror keepIn the eerie confines of Broadmoor Asylum, the infamous John Flack, a genius criminal confined for nine murders, has penned a vast encyclopedia of crime—an obsession that could unl…
Level C1MysteryTeresa of Watling Street: A Fantasia on Modern ThemesIn the bustling heart of London's financial district, a determined young specialist steps into a powerful bank's directors' parlour, poised on the brink of a life-changing opportun…
Level C1MysteryTales of terrorA trusted doctor recounts a chilling tale of friendship, love, and a haunting tragedy tied to a brilliant engineer and his beautiful bride amid the unrest of 1857.
Level C1MysteryTales of Terror and MysteryA daring aeronaut’s blood-stained notebook reveals a terrifying secret lurking in the heights above England, challenging the limits of science and sanity as he confronts an unimagi…
Level C1MysteryTaken AliveA mysterious visitor disrupts the quiet life at a remote mine, setting off a chain of events filled with suspense and unexpected revelations.
Level C1MysterySuspenseA scarred young woman seeking refuge and a fresh start answers an unusual advertisement, stepping into a shadowy world where appearances deceive and danger lurks behind veils and p…
Level C1MysteryStories of TragedyDelve into intricate tales of mystery and mental prowess where analytical minds unravel enigmas through keen observation and strategic insight.
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…