Coming soonScience Fiction · Audiobook read-along
The War of the Worlds
Martian war machines land in England in one of the first great alien-invasion stories.
Reading The War of the Worlds in English
Best for: B2 (Upper intermediate), with read-along support
Told by an unnamed narrator who watches Martian cylinders crash-land near London, this is a fast, gripping read with a strong journalistic feel. Wells keeps sentences punchy and the action moving, but you'll meet complex clause structures and scientific vocabulary alongside the chaos. It suits learners who can handle extended description and want to stretch their reading stamina with a genuine page-turner.
What you'll practise
- Past simple and past continuous to narrate fast-moving events
- Scientific and military vocabulary — 'cylinder', 'tripod', 'artillery'
- Long descriptive passages with embedded relative clauses
- Tap any technical or old-fashioned word to see its meaning as you read along
How to read it here: we're producing the narration — it will appear here with full read-along support soon.
New to reading along? How reading while listening works →
Common questions about reading The War of the Worlds
What level of English is The War of the Worlds best for?
The War of the Worlds suits B2 (Upper intermediate) learners. With read-along audio and tap-to-define vocabulary, you can read it a little above your comfort level without getting stuck.
Is The War of the Worlds free to read in English?
The free interactive read-along is coming to this page soon.
Does The War of the Worlds come with audio?
Yes. Every book on The Reading Corner is narrated, with the words highlighting in time as you listen and every difficult word explained on tap — so you read and hear English together.
