20 Free Classic Books to Read Online
Hand-picked public-domain classics, from Austen, Doyle and Aesop to Tagore. Each has a short summary in our own words, an age guide and a free link to Project Gutenberg.
Updated:
🧒 Kid-safe picks
- The Adventures of Sherlock HolmesArthur Conan Doyle · ages 11+
- The Hound of the BaskervillesArthur Conan Doyle · ages 12+
- Aesop's FablesAesop · ages 5+
- Alice's Adventures in WonderlandLewis Carroll · ages 7+
- Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy)J. M. Barrie · ages 8+
- The Jungle BookRudyard Kipling · ages 8+
- The Wind in the WillowsKenneth Grahame · ages 7+
- HeidiJohanna Spyri · ages 7+
- Anne of Green GablesL. M. Montgomery · ages 9+
- Treasure IslandRobert Louis Stevenson · ages 10+
- The Secret GardenFrances Hodgson Burnett · ages 8+
- Little WomenLouisa May Alcott · ages 9+
- The Adventures of Tom SawyerMark Twain · ages 10+
- The Wonderful Wizard of OzL. Frank Baum · ages 6+
- Gitanjali (Song Offerings)Rabindranath Tagore · ages All ages
- The Crescent MoonRabindranath Tagore · ages All ages
📘 For teens and adults
Why these books are free
Every book here is in the public domain. Project Gutenberg lists each text as public domain in the USA, and the authors named here died long ago, so their works are also free in Canada and India. We write our own summaries and link to Project Gutenberg for the original text and downloads. We never host copyrighted books. Read our copyright and public domain policy.
Looking for more? Try the classic library with 85+ chapter readers, Premchand stories in Hindi, Punjabi books, Spanish fables or the new free magazines.
Frequently asked questions
Are these books really free?
Yes. All 20 are public-domain works. You can read them online or download them from Project Gutenberg at no cost.
Which books are best for kids?
Aesop's Fables, Alice in Wonderland, The Wind in the Willows, Peter Pan, Heidi, Anne of Green Gables and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz are good places to start. Each page gives an age guide.
Do you host copyrighted books?
No. We only list works that are public domain and credit Project Gutenberg for the texts.