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 C2FantasyA Mine of FaultsIn a world where love and diplomacy entwine, a captivating woman becomes the center of a delicate game of craft and policy, revealing how imperfections ignite passion and power in…
Level C2ClassicsA Midsummer Night's DreamAs Theseus prepares for his wedding, Hermia defies her father’s command to wed Demetrius, sparking a night of magical mischief and tangled affections in an enchanted forest where l…
Level C2PoetryA Midsummer Holiday and Other PoemsDive into a collection where vivid emotions and classical influences intertwine, capturing moments of celebration, reflection, and poetic homage through rich, evocative verse.
Level C2ClassicsA Merry Dialogue Declaringe the Properties of Shrowde Shrews and Honest WivesTwo wives share sharp and honest reflections on marriage, contrasting the trials of shrewish husbands with the virtues of honest wives, blending humor and wisdom in a lively dialog…
Level C2PoetryA Lute of Jade : Selections from the Classical Poets of ChinaExplore the graceful world of ancient Chinese poetry, from heartfelt ballads to the luminous verses of Tang dynasty masters, revealing timeless emotions and serene reflections that…
Level C2PoetryA Lover's Diary, Volume 2.A journey through longing, love, and loss unfolds in vivid poetic scenes—from stormy seas and haunted dreams to sacred moments and shattered hopes—inviting readers to explore the d…
Level C2PoetryA Lover's ComplaintA heartbroken maiden tears apart love letters by a riverside, consumed by sorrow and betrayal.
Level C2PoetryA London Plane-Tree, and Other VerseExplore vivid scenes and heartfelt reflections on London life, love, and nature through a rich collection of poetry that captures moments from bustling streets to quiet gardens.
Level C2PoetryA Little Book of Old Time Verse: Old Fashioned FlowersExplore timeless verses that evoke the charm of old-fashioned flowers and the sweet memories of days gone by, gathered from poets spanning centuries.
Level C2ClassicsA Letter on Shakspere's Authorship of The Two Noble Kinsmen: and on the characteristics of Shakspere's style and the secret of his supremacyExplore a rigorous analysis of Shakespeare's style and the disputed authorship of The Two Noble Kinsmen, questioning whether this play truly reflects the mastery of the Bard’s late…![Cover of A Learned Dissertation on Dumpling (1726): [and] Pudding and Dumpling Burnt to Pot. Or a Compleat Key to the Dissertation on Dumpling (1727) by Henry Carey](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da81rk1p4q6c73eca1e0.webp)
Level C2ClassicsA Learned Dissertation on Dumpling (1726): [and] Pudding and Dumpling Burnt to Pot. Or a Compleat Key to the Dissertation on Dumpling (1727)Dive into a witty 18th-century satire that uses the humble dumpling as a metaphor to expose political corruption and social intrigue in London, blending culinary knowledge with sha…
Level C2PoetryA Jongleur Strayed: Verses on Love and Other Matters Sacred and ProfaneExplore a poetic journey through love’s many facets, from tender devotion to playful heartbreak, as a wandering jongleur crafts verse that captures the sacred and profane moments o…
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 C2PoetryA Father of Women, and Other PoemsPoignant poems honor the strength and legacy of fathers, the sacrifice of soldiers, and the delicate beauty of nature, weaving reflections on war, love, and art into a tapestry of…
Level C2ClassicsA Fairy Tale in Two Acts Taken from Shakespeare (1763)A group of amateur actors in Athens prepare to perform the tragic love story of Pyramus and Thisby before the Duke and Duchess, rehearsing with comedic enthusiasm and earnestness u…
Level C2PoetryA Dome of Many-Coloured GlassExplore vivid emotions and delicate moments through a kaleidoscope of lyrical poems that paint life as a dome of many-colored glass, blending nature, dreams, and heartfelt reflecti…
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 Dark Month: From Swinburne's Collected Poetical Works Vol. VDelve into a haunting sequence of poems that explore sorrow, solitude, and the passage of time through vivid imagery and rhythmic precision, capturing the depths of a dark month’s…
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 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 C2PoetryA Child-WorldStep into a magical world of childhood wonder where a simple Indiana home and its blooming orchard reveal timeless joys, secret adventures, and the enchanting beauty of nature seen…
Level C2PoetryA Channel Passage and Other Poems: Taken from The Collected Poetical Works of Algernon Charles: Swinburne—Vol VIExplore a vivid collection of poems capturing moments from midsummer holidays to historic odes, blending nature, memory, and tribute in lyrical form.
Level C2PoetryA Century of RoundelsDive into a tapestry of delicate roundels where light laughter meets deep heartbeats, tracing fleeting joys, lingering regrets, and the relentless passage of time through evocative…
Level C2PoetryA Canadian Calendar: XII LyricsExperience the vivid rhythms of Canadian seasons through lyrical poems that celebrate nature’s cycles, the call of the sea, and haunting memories woven into the landscape’s timeles…
Level C2PoetryA Burlesque Translation of HomerDive into a riotous retelling of the Iliad where gods bicker like quarrelsome neighbors and heroes clash over a captive wench, blending classical epic with sharp wit and bawdy humo…
Level C2PoetryA Book of Strife in the Form of The Diary of an Old SoulA soul's journey unfolds through heartfelt prayers and reflections, seeking faith, hope, and divine connection amid life's doubts and struggles.
Level C2PoetryA Book of EpigramsDive into a collection of sharp, witty epigrams and reflective poems that explore themes of life, nature, love, and human folly with elegance and insight, each verse a vivid spark…![Cover of 88 Favourite Carols and Hymns for Christmas by Anonymous [Compiler]](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/daf8nbge1ofc73dhcgqg.webp)
Level C2Poetry88 Favourite Carols and Hymns for ChristmasCelebrate the joyous birth of Christ with a collection of 88 beloved carols and hymns, inviting readers to join angels and shepherds in timeless praise and reflection on the Savior…
Level C2Poetry35 SonnetsExplore the elusive nature of self and soul through profound reflections on identity, memory, and the struggle to express inner truth.
Level C2Poetry'Twixt Earth and Stars: PoemsExplore a rich tapestry of emotions and nature through a collection of poems that journey from gardens and distant hills to dreams and memories, capturing love, loss, and the soul’…
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 C2Poetry'He Giveth His Beloved Sleep'Explore the serene grace of divine rest as the poem reflects on the sacred gift of sleep bestowed upon the beloved, offering solace beyond earthly struggles and sorrows in a world…
Level C2Classics"A Most Unholy Trade," Being Letters on the Drama by Henry JamesExplore intimate letters revealing intense reflections on Ibsen’s play "Little Eyolf," blending sharp theatrical critique with vivid impressions of drama’s power and complexity.
Level C2RomanceAnna KareninaThe classic romance novel by Leo, graf Tolstoy.
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 C2PoetryErotica RomanaThe classic romance novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Level C2ClassicsHistory of Tom Jones, a FoundlingThe classic classics novel by Henry Fielding.
Level C2ClassicsLes MisérablesThe classic historical novel by Victor Hugo.
Level C2PhilosophyLeviathanThe classic historical novel by Thomas Hobbes.
Level C2ClassicsMiddlemarchThe classic romance novel by George Eliot.
Level C2AdventureMoby Dick; Or, The WhaleThe classic adventure novel by Herman Melville.
Level C2PhilosophyOn LibertyThe classic philosophy novel by John Stuart Mill.
Level C2RomanceRomeo and JulietThe classic romance novel by William Shakespeare.
Level C2AdventureThe Adventures of Roderick RandomThe classic adventure novel by T.