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The War of the Worlds

Read H. G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds (1898) in full, chapter by chapter. This is the complete original novel in advanced English, with a reader that lets you tap any word to hear, translate, or define it.

CEFR B2–C2 · 27 chapters · full public-domain text

  1. BOOK ONE - CHAPTER II - THE FALLING STAR. C1 moderate 9 min · 1342 words 📖 Reader
  2. BOOK ONE - CHAPTER V - THE HEAT-RAY. C1 moderate 10 min · 1485 words 📖 Reader
  3. BOOK ONE - CHAPTER X - IN THE STORM. C1 moderate 15 min · 2255 words 📖 Reader
  4. BOOK ONE - CHAPTER XI - AT THE WINDOW. C1 moderate 14 min · 2033 words 📖 Reader
  5. BOOK ONE - CHAPTER XIV - IN LONDON. C1 moderate 25 min · 3739 words 📖 Reader
  6. BOOK TWO - CHAPTER I - UNDER FOOT. C1 moderate 17 min · 2611 words 📖 Reader
  7. BOOK TWO - CHAPTER V - THE STILLNESS. C1 moderate 6 min · 960 words 📖 Reader
  8. BOOK TWO - CHAPTER VIII - DEAD LONDON. C1 moderate 21 min · 3114 words 📖 Reader
  9. BOOK TWO - CHAPTER IX - WRECKAGE. C1 moderate 12 min · 1850 words 📖 Reader

Frequently asked questions

Is this the full text of The War of the Worlds?
Yes. This is the complete, unabridged public-domain text, split into 27 chapters you can read one at a time.
What English level is The War of the Worlds?
The War of the Worlds is an advanced classic (around CEFR C1). In ESL Reader you can tap any word to hear it, translate it, or see a definition, so you can read comfortably above your level.
Is it free to read?
Yes. Every chapter is free to read online, with no sign-up and no paywall.

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