CEFR C2 · Proficient
Read Proficient Classics in English (C2)
39 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 C2PhilosophySophistPhilosophical minds grapple with the elusive nature of Being and Not-being as an Eleatic stranger challenges Socratic thought, dissecting sophisms that blur truth and falsehood.
Level C2PhilosophySacred Books of the EastExplore the ancient spiritual hymns and sacred texts that reveal profound religious awe and timeless philosophical insights, from Vedic chants to the teachings of Buddha and the Ko…
Level C2PoetryQuartz from the UplandsA powerful call to awaken the creative spirit within a world dulled by convention and industry’s roar, urging a deep communion with nature’s cycles and a fierce critique of society…
Level C2PoetryProverbial Philosophy: The First and Second SeriesDelve into reflective poetry that weaves wisdom and truth through thoughtful musings on life, knowledge, and the human spirit.
Level C2PhilosophyPlutarch's MoralsExplore timeless ethical reflections on education, virtue, friendship, and the challenges of human nature, offering practical guidance on living a moral and contented life within t…
Level C2PhilosophyPhilebusExplore a profound dialogue where Socrates and his companions debate pleasure, knowledge, and the highest good, unraveling complex ideas about the nature of happiness and the mixed…
Level C2PhilosophyPetrarch's Secret; or, the Soul's Conflict with Passion: Three Dialogues Between Himself and S. AugustineA profound philosophical dialogue unfolds as a man confronts his inner passions through intimate conversations with Saint Augustine, revealing the soul's struggle between reason an…
Level C2PhilosophyOur EternityConfront the ultimate mystery as fear and denial cloud our understanding of death, the one inevitable event that shapes our existence and defies our intellect.
Level C2PoetryOn the Nature of ThingsA poetic exploration unfolds, revealing the cosmic forces of nature and the eternal power of love that shapes life and the universe.
Level C2MysteryNote Book of an English Opium-EaterDive into a darkly playful exploration where murder is dissected as a twisted art form, blurring the lines between horror and extravagance in a provocative reflection on human fasc…
Level C2PhilosophyNatural history of intellect, and other papersExplore the laws and powers of the intellect as natural phenomena, revealing how the mind shapes and comprehends the universe itself.
Level C2PhilosophyL. Annaeus Seneca on BenefitsExplore the art of giving, receiving, and repaying kindness through the moral philosophy of a Roman thinker whose insights shaped early Christian and classical thought.
Level C2PhilosophyHomer and Classical PhilologyExplore the complex world of Classical Philology, where history, science, and aesthetics collide in the quest to uncover the enduring ideals of antiquity amidst modern skepticism a…
Level C2PhilosophyHerder's conception of "das Volk"Explore the rich historical and linguistic roots of the German term "Volk," tracing its evolution from ancient Germanic languages to its broader cultural and philosophical meanings…
Level C2PhilosophyGiordano BrunoOn Pentecost in a Paris dominated by Italian influence, a young Dominican monk challenges orthodox beliefs with radical ideas about the Spirit’s freedom and the unity of the visibl…
Level C2PhilosophyEureka: A Prose PoemEmbark on a profound exploration of the universe's essence, origin, and destiny, blending physical, metaphysical, and mathematical insights into a sweeping vision that challenges c…
Level C2PhilosophyEssays — First SeriesExplore the boundless human spirit as it connects individual experience with the vast tapestry of history, revealing how every thought, law, and revolution reflects the universal m…
Level C2PoetryDemocritus PlatonissansDive into a profound poetic exploration where faith and reason intertwine, as the soul's immortality and the divine nature of existence are passionately debated and celebrated thro…
Level C2PoetryCosmosJourney through the ages as humanity grapples with the mysteries of life, death, and the cosmos, challenging old creeds and seeking truth beyond superstition and science.
Level C2PhilosophyComplete Works of Plutarch — Volume 3: Essays and MiscellaniesExplore profound reflections on nature, the universe, and the soul through philosophical essays that investigate the essence of existence, the cosmos, and human perception, invitin…
Level C2PoetryChinese literatureJourney through ancient Chinese wisdom with the teachings of Confucius, the poetic odes of the Shi-King, and the epic travels of Fâ-hien, revealing a rich tapestry of philosophy, h…
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 C2PhilosophyApologySocrates stands trial, facing accusations shaped by public opinion and caricature, yet he defies his judges with unwavering truth and irony.![Cover of A dialoge or communication of two persons: Deuysyd and set forthe in the late[n] tonge, by the noble and famose clarke. Desiderius Erasmus intituled [the] pylgremage of pure deuotyon. Newly tra[n]slatyd into Englishe. by Desiderius Erasmus](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dagkgg6icedc739b5sn0.webp)
Level C2PhilosophyA dialoge or communication of two persons: Deuysyd and set forthe in the late[n] tonge, by the noble and famose clarke. Desiderius Erasmus intituled [the] pylgremage of pure deuotyon. Newly tra[n]slatyd into Englishe.Two voices engage in a profound dialogue exploring the true path of Christian devotion, exposing the dangers of idolatry and false worship while guiding believers toward faith, red…
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 C2PhilosophyA Discourse of Life and Death, by Mornay; and Antonius by GarnierExplore a profound meditation on the human condition, where life is a restless journey fraught with toil and fear, and death, paradoxically, is both dreaded and misunderstood as th…
Level C2PoetryA Defence of Poetry and Other EssaysExploring the profound nature of love and life, these essays delve into the human soul’s yearning for connection and the awe-inspiring miracle of existence, revealing the invisible…
Level C2PoetryA Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne: Quickened With Metrical Illustrations, Both Morall and Divine, Etc.Explore a rich tapestry of ancient and modern emblems brought to life with metrical illustrations that blend moral and divine lessons, inviting readers to a thoughtful and pleasant…
Level C2PhilosophyBeyond Good and EvilThe classic philosophy novel by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
Level C2PhilosophyBiographia LiterariaThe classic philosophy novel by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Level C2RomanceEloisa : $b or, A series of original lettersThe classic romance novel by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Level C2PhilosophyLeviathanThe classic historical novel by Thomas Hobbes.
Level C2PhilosophyOn LibertyThe classic philosophy novel by John Stuart Mill.
Level C2ClassicsThe Brothers KaramazovThe classic classics novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
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 C2PhilosophyThe City of God, Volume IThe classic work of philosophy and theology by Saint Augustine of Hippo.