What can you read at C2? Free books in 5 languages

Our table has 9 free books rated C2: 1 in English, 2 in Spanish, 2 in French, 2 in German, 2 in Italian. The easiest by vocabulary are Une saison en enfer (C2, 7,111 words), Romeo and Juliet (C2, 26,138 words) and Historia de la vida del Buscón (C2, 42,981 words). Each title links to its own page with word counts, the opening lines and where to download it free.

By the Readlang Mobile team (an independent app, not affiliated with readlang.com). Updated 31 October 2026.

Within each level the books are sorted by how many of their most frequent word forms cover 95% of the text, fewest first. That is a measure of how much vocabulary a book asks for, not of quality, and no book is placed higher because it is in our app. A level is a starting point: check any book with the one-page test, and if it is too hard, look one level down (C1).

English books at C2 1 books

Free English books at C2, fewest forms for 95% first.
Book	Form	Words	Forms for 95%	Reading time
Romeo and JulietWilliam Shakespeare	play in verse	26,138	2,443	2–4.5 h

All levels: English books by level.

Spanish books at C2 2 books

Free Spanish books at C2, fewest forms for 95% first.
Book	Form	Words	Forms for 95%	Reading time
Historia de la vida del BuscónFrancisco de Quevedo	novel	42,981	5,023	3.5–7 h
Don Quijote de la ManchaMiguel de Cervantes	novel	383,633	7,929	32–64 h

All levels: Spanish books by level.

French books at C2 2 books

Free French books at C2, fewest forms for 95% first.
Book	Form	Words	Forms for 95%	Reading time
Une saison en enferArthur Rimbaud	prose poetry	7,111	1,888	under 1–1 h
Du côté de chez SwannMarcel Proust	novel	168,956	7,107	14–28 h

All levels: French books by level.

German books at C2 2 books

Free German books at C2, fewest forms for 95% first.
Book	Form	Words	Forms for 95%	Reading time
Die Geburt der TragödieFriedrich Nietzsche	philosophy	41,816	6,015	3.5–7 h
Faust: Der Tragödie zweiter TeilJohann Wolfgang von Goethe	play in verse	45,471	7,939	4–7.5 h

All levels: German books by level.

Italian books at C2 2 books

Free Italian books at C2, fewest forms for 95% first.
Book	Form	Words	Forms for 95%	Reading time
Orlando FuriosoLudovico Ariosto	epic poem	266,145	7,913	22–44 h
La Divina CommediaDante Alighieri	epic poem	97,718	8,004	8–16 h

All levels: Italian books by level.