CEFR C2 · Proficient
Read Proficient Classics in English (C2)
78 books graded at CEFR C2 (proficient) — 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 C2 books to read in English?
The best C2 books to read in English are well-known classics whose own language sits at that level — start with The Book-Bills of Narcissus: An Account Rendered by Richard Le Gallienne, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 01 (of 10) and The Book of Three Hundred Anecdotes: Historical, Literary, and Humorous—A New Selection. Each is the complete book, labelled CEFR C2 (proficient), 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 C2HistoricalComplete Prose Works: Specimen Days and Collect, November Boughs and Goodbye My FancyExperience vivid reflections on war, nature, and American life through personal anecdotes, battlefield scenes, and tranquil landscapes that capture the spirit of a nation in transf…
Level C2HistoricalCodex Junius 11Angelic hosts once basking in celestial bliss face rebellion and exile, as divine justice casts down prideful spirits into eternal torment.
Level C2HistoricalClassical Enigmas, Adapted to Every Month in the Year: Composed from the English and Roman Histories, Heathen Mythology and Names of Famous Writers: Meant to Amuse Youths of All Ages, and at the Same Time Exert Their Memories, by Calling to Mind What They Have Read at Different TimesChallenge your memory and wit with enigmas drawn from English and Roman histories, mythology, and famous writers, each tailored to a different month of the year to entertain and ed…
Level C2HistoricalChoyce Drollery: Songs and Sonnets: Being a Collection of Divers Excellent Pieces of Poetry, of Several Eminent Authors.Amidst the turmoil of the English Commonwealth, a rare collection of songs and sonnets offers a secret glimpse into royalist hopes and pastoral dreams, treasured and hunted in equa…
Level C2HistoricalChaucer and His TimesStep into the world of 14th-century England as the life and language of Geoffrey Chaucer unfold through detailed linguistic notes and historical insights, revealing the mysteries b…
Level C2HistoricalCharles Di Tocca: A TragedyAmidst the haunting ruins of Apollo's temple and the vibrant revelry of bacchanals, power, passion, and betrayal intertwine in a dramatic tale set within the castle of Charles di T…
Level C2HistoricalBy Veldt and KopjeAmid Africa's ancient landscapes and turbulent history, a magistrate confronts the grim reality of leprosy's spread, enforcing harsh laws in a land where tradition, disease, and co…
Level C2HistoricalBeggars Bush: A Comedy: From the Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Volume 2 of 10)In a war-torn Flanders, political intrigue and betrayal swirl as a usurping general seizes power, challenging loyalties and honor within a fractured court.
Level C2HistoricalBeechenbrook: A Rhyme of the WarAmid the turmoil of the Civil War, this poignant poetic tribute honors the sacrifices and enduring grief of Southern women, weaving sonnets and lays that reflect on loss, valor, an…
Level C2HistoricalBedouinsDive into the vivid world of Mary Garden, a fiercely talented and complex operatic star whose multiple personalities and indomitable spirit challenge conventions and captivate audi…
Level C2HistoricalAppreciations, with an Essay on StyleExplore the rich distinctions and poetic possibilities within prose and poetry, as this work delves into the art of literary style and criticism, challenging traditional boundaries…
Level C2HistoricalAntony and CleopatraA mighty Roman general, once fierce in battle, now dazzled and undone by his passionate love for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, faces the clash of duty and desire as political tides…
Level C2HistoricalAn encyclopedist of the dark ages: Isidore of SevilleExplore the mind of Isidore of Seville, a seventh-century scholar who compiles the scattered remnants of ancient science and knowledge into a vast encyclopedia, revealing the intel…
Level C2HistoricalAn English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (8 of 8)Step into the epic campaign of King Henry V as he rallies his knights and sets sail for Normandy, preparing for the fateful Siege of Harfleur and the legendary Battle of Agincourt,…
Level C2RomanceA rogue's tragedyAmid the ethereal Alps, two lovers find their world transformed by a transcendent passion that blurs the line between dream and reality.
Level C2HistoricalA Very Pleasaunt & Fruitful Diologe Called the EpicureA thoughtful dialogue explores the true treasures of the mind—learning, wisdom, and virtue—beyond worldly riches and fame.
Level C2HistoricalA Treatise of Daunses, Wherin It is Shewed, That They Are as It Were Accessories and Dependants (Or Thynges Annexed) to Whoredome: Where Also by the Way is Touched and Proued, That Playes Are Ioyned and Knit Togeather in a Rancke or Rowe with Them (1581)Explore a fiery argument against dances and plays, portrayed as gateways to moral corruption, as the author challenges their place in Christian society and calls for a thorough ref…
Level C2HistoricalA Roman Lawyer in Jerusalem : First CenturyIn first-century Jerusalem, a Roman lawyer wrestles with the mysterious figure of Christus and the controversial betrayal by Judas Iscariot, seeking truth amid political turmoil an…
Level C2HistoricalA Ioyfull medytacyon to all Englonde of the coronacyon of our moost naturall souerayne lorde kynge Henry the eyght: (A Joyful Meditation of the Coronation of King Henry the Eighth)Celebrate the coronation of King Henry VIII through a poetic meditation that honors his royal lineage, virtues, and the hopes of England united under his reign.
Level C2HistoricalA History of English Romanticism in the Nineteenth CenturyExplore the vibrant revival of medieval themes and national heritage as the 19th century’s romanticism unfolds through the works of Scott, Coleridge, and Keats, revealing a complex…
Level C2HistoricalA Commentary on HerodotusDelve into an in-depth exploration of Herodotus's historical narratives, enriched with scholarly insights and linguistic analysis that illuminate the ancient world’s complexities a…
Level C2Historical'Hello, soldier!'Amidst the stirring calls of war, ordinary Australian men—bushies, miners, boys—march with pride and courage to defend their land and prove their worth on the battlefield.
Level C2ClassicsLes MisérablesThe classic historical novel by Victor Hugo.
Level C2ClassicsMiddlemarchThe classic romance novel by George Eliot.
Level C2PoetryThe Lady of the LakeThe classic romance novel by Walter Scott.
Level C2PhilosophyThe PrinceThe classic historical novel by Niccolò Machiavelli.
Level C2PhilosophyThe Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2)The classic historical novel by George Gillespie.
Level C2ClassicsWar and PeaceTolstoy's sweeping epic follows five aristocratic families through the Napoleonic Wars, weaving personal drama with grand historical events to create one of literature's greatest p…
Level C2PhilosophyThe City of God, Volume IThe classic work of philosophy and theology by Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Level C2HistoricalThe Anabasis of Alexander : $b or, The history of the wars and conquests of Alexander the GreatThe classic historical novel by Arrian.