CEFR C2 · Proficient
Read Proficient Classics in English (C2)
973 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 Yorkshire Lyrics: Poems written in the Dialect as Spoken in the West Riding of Yorkshire. To which are added a Selection of Fugitive Verses not in the Dialect, XXXII Ballades in Blue China [1885] and Within a Budding Grove. 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 C2PoetryLook! We Have Come Through!Experience the raw journey of a man grappling with love, loss, and self-discovery during the tumultuous passage into maturity, where passion and conflict intertwine beneath the moo…
Level C2PoetryLondon SonnetsExplore the vibrant streets and hidden corners of London through evocative sonnets that capture everyday life, love, and war, painting a poetic portrait of a city alive with storie…
Level C2ClassicsLocrine: A TragedyIn a kingdom shadowed by loss and divided loyalties, a queen grapples with sorrow and silence while her son confronts the harsh truths of legacy and love.
Level C2ClassicsLocrineAs Brutus faces his final moments, he recounts a heroic journey from exile to triumph, leading loyal lords through battles and alliances that shape their destiny in a land fraught…
Level C2ClassicsLittle Rivers: A Book of Essays in Profitable IdlenessEscape the weariness of city life to wander by gentle rivers, where nature’s music and quiet streams invite reflection, friendship, and simple joys.![Cover of Little Lord Fauntleroy [abridged]: Für den Schulgebrauch bearbeitet by Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/daf4oi0e1ofc73dhb9gg.webp)
Level C2Children'sLittle Lord Fauntleroy [abridged]: Für den Schulgebrauch bearbeitetA young boy named Cedric grows up unaware of his noble English heritage and the family grudges that shadow his past.
Level C2ClassicsLife of Johnson, Volume 1: 1709-1765Follow the remarkable journey of Samuel Johnson from his early studies to his rise as a towering literary figure, revealing his correspondence, conversations, and unpublished works…
Level C2PoetryLife Immovable. First PartAmidst fierce cultural and political turmoil in early 20th-century Greece, a poet wrestles with identity, language, and national heritage, capturing the passions and conflicts of h…
Level C2ClassicsLibrary of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 06Explore a rich collection of literary gems and historical insights, featuring voices from renowned poets, historians, and philosophers across centuries, illuminating the tapestry o…
Level C2HistoricalLibrary of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 05Explore the lives and works of history's literary and cultural giants through curated letters, speeches, and essays spanning diverse genres and eras.
Level C2ClassicsLibrary of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 04Dive into a vast anthology showcasing timeless works across history and genres, including poetry, essays, and speeches by renowned figures.
Level C2ClassicsLibrary of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 03Dive into a vast treasury of timeless wisdom and storytelling, featuring reflections, fables, poems, and essays from legendary authors and thinkers across history.
Level C2ClassicsLibrary of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 02Explore timeless wisdom and epic tales spanning cultures and centuries, from ancient Greek philosophy to Arabian Nights, through insightful essays and legendary stories that illumi…
Level C2ClassicsLetters to Severall Persons of HonourExplore a collection of eloquent, heartfelt letters addressed to noble recipients, blending spiritual reflection and personal devotion amid the backdrop of 17th-century London’s st…
Level C2PoetryLectures on Poetry: Read in the Schools of Natural Philosophy at OxfordDelve into the intricate art of poetry as explored through engaging lectures that balance classical wisdom with original insight.
Level C2PoetryLeaves of GrassA vibrant celebration of individuality, democracy, and the human spirit unfolds through expansive, free-flowing verse that explores life, nature, war, and the boundless sea, inviti…
Level C2FantasyLe Corbeau = The RavenIn a midnight chamber haunted by sorrow for lost Lenore, a mysterious raven appears, its eerie presence stirring dreams and fears beyond mortal reckoning.
Level C2PoetryLays from the WestJourney through vivid memories and longing as a soul wanders from the wild prairies back to the cherished landscapes and heartfelt songs of the Green Isle, blending nature’s beauty…
Level C2PoetryLater PoemsExplore a world where thoughts roam like flocks under the watchful care of a poetic shepherdess, and reflections on faith, love, and life's changing seasons unfold in rich, lyrical…
Level C2RomanceLast Poems: Translations from the Book of Indian LoveDive into a world of exotic passion and mystique through poetic translations that reveal the intimate laments and celebrations of Indian love, from dancing-girls to sacred nights.
Level C2PoetryLast Poems by A. E. HousmanSoldiers confront the haunting shadows of war, love, and loss as they march through fading days and uncertain futures.
Level C2PoetryLamiaIn a world where gods and mythical creatures roam, a serpent cursed with a woman's soul seeks to regain her human form and love a mortal youth, setting the stage for a tale of ench…
Level C2PoetryLamentsA grieving father turns to poetry to mourn his beloved young daughter, blending profound sorrow with reflections on life, death, and hope.
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 C2PoetryL'Allegro, Il Penseroso, Comus, and LycidasEscape into vivid pastoral scenes where mirth and melancholy dance in poetic harmony, inviting you to revel in nature's joys and ponder deeper shadows of the soul through enchantin…
Level C2HistoricalKing Richard IIIIn a kingdom basking in newfound peace, a deformed and cunning duke plots to seize power through deceit and treachery, setting sibling against sibling in a deadly game of ambition…
Level C2HistoricalKing Richard IIPower struggles ignite as King Richard II confronts accusations of treason between nobles, setting the stage for a fierce clash of loyalty, honor, and wrath in a kingdom on the bri…
Level C2ClassicsKing LearA aging king decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, sparking a tense battle for power and loyalty that will unravel family bonds and ignite a tragic struggle for…
Level C2HistoricalKing JohnA royal dispute erupts as King John faces a bold claim from France over his kingdom and territories, threatening war and forcing him to defend his crown against his nephew Arthur’s…
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry VIIIAmidst political intrigue and royal spectacle, witness the grandeur and tragic weight of King Henry VIII’s reign as noble figures navigate power, loyalty, and the swift fall from g…
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry VI, Part 3Amidst the turmoil of a kingdom torn by war, the ambitious House of York seizes the palace, challenging King Henry VI's fragile reign and igniting a deadly struggle for the throne.
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry VI, Part 2Amid political turmoil and shifting alliances, King Henry VI welcomes Queen Margaret, setting the stage for a kingdom on the brink of conflict and intrigue.
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry VI, Part 1As England mourns the death of the valiant King Henry V, power struggles ignite among nobles and factions vie for control, setting the stage for a turbulent reign filled with war,…
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry VA kingdom’s fate hangs on the brink as bishops debate a bill threatening the Church’s lands, while a prologue invites you to imagine the thunderous clash of Henry V’s campaign in F…
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry IV, Part 2In a kingdom restless with rebellion and rumor, the shadow of war looms as King Henry IV battles to secure his throne, while whispers of betrayal and shifting loyalties threaten to…
Level C2HistoricalKing Henry IV, Part 1As King Henry IV grapples with uneasy peace and brewing civil strife, noble factions prepare for war while a bold rebellion rises in Wales, threatening the fragile realm and testin…
Level C2HistoricalKing Edward IIIAmidst claims of royal blood and disputed thrones, a resolute King Edward III confronts French defiance to assert his inheritance and ignite a fierce struggle for sovereignty and h…
Level C2PoetryKathrina—A PoemA lyrical tribute to womanhood unfolds through vivid memories of childhood, love, and loss, tracing a soul’s journey from innocent hope to profound despair amid the beauty and tria…
Level C2HistoricalJulius CaesarAmidst Rome’s bustling streets, tensions rise as commoners debate Caesar’s triumph and the fading loyalty to Pompey, setting the stage for political intrigue and the clash of power…
Level C2PoetryJourneys Through Bookland, Vol. 4Explore timeless poems and stirring stories that celebrate simple joys, noble character, and heroic deeds, weaving history, nature, and human spirit into a rich tapestry of verse a…
Level C2PoetryJohn Marr and Other PoemsAmidst the vast, stormy seas, sailors' voices from a bygone era rise again, evoking memories of camaraderie, duty, and the relentless challenges of life at sea.
Level C2HistoricalJoe Wilson and His MatesIn the rugged Australian bush, Joe Wilson and his mates navigate the harsh realities of life, love, and friendship amid tough seasons and timeless challenges.
Level C2PoetryJinglesExplore a heartfelt collection of poems that capture the nuances of parting and the emotions woven into farewells, inviting reflection on life's transitions and the echoes they lea…
Level C2HistoricalJerusalem DeliveredAs Christian knights unite under Godfrey's command to reclaim Jerusalem, divine forces and earthly valor collide in a soaring tale of faith, warfare, and sacred duty amid the Crusa…
Level C2HistoricalIvory, Apes and PeacocksExplore the vivid, poetic world of a Polish sailor turned English novelist who reveals the mysteries of the sea and the depths of the human soul through richly imagined tales of ad…
Level C2FantasyIstar of Babylon: A PhantasyA young Greek rhapsode, inspired by tales of the living goddess Istar of Babylon, embarks on a profound journey from Sicily to the ancient city itself, seeking to witness and worsh…
Level C2ClassicsIphigenia in TaurisIn a sacred grove before Diana's temple, Iphigenia serves as a priestess far from home, while Orestes and his loyal friend Pylades arrive, setting the stage for a dramatic reunion…
Level C2PoetryIonicaExplore a collection of 85 poems blending classical scholarship with personal reflection, tracing a scholar's journey from boyhood to intellectual maturity amidst themes of home, r…