French readers · A1 to C2
French books by level: graded readers from A1 to C2
A French graded reader is a book written or retold for one level of the Common European Framework (CEFR), so that a learner understands almost every sentence. LupinFrench publishes one graded reader per level, all following Maurice Leblanc’s Arsène Lupin. The A1 reader is finished and goes on sale soon (PDF and EPUB, €4.99); the higher levels are in preparation.
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Which Lupin book goes with which level?
| Level | What you can do | The Lupin book | Reader |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 · Beginner | Introduce yourself, describe people and things, ask simple questions, read very short texts. | L’Arrestation d’Arsène Lupin | Ready, on sale soon · €4.99 |
| A2 · Elementary | Talk about your day and the past, handle shops and travel, read short simple stories. | Arsène Lupin en prison · L’Évasion | Coming soon |
| B1 · Intermediate | Follow the main points of clear texts and conversations, tell a story, give opinions. | Arsène Lupin contre Herlock Sholmès | Coming soon |
| B2 · Upper-intermediate | Read most articles and modern novels, follow films, argue a point in detail. | L’Aiguille creuse | Coming soon |
| C1 · Advanced | Read long, demanding texts and literature with ease, including implicit meaning. | 813 | Planned |
| C2 · Mastery | Understand practically everything you read or hear, including older literary French. | La Comtesse de Cagliostro | Planned |
Each book matches a level of the free online course: the same story and the same grammar, in a form you can keep, print or read on an e-reader, with extra exercises and answer keys.
How do I know which level I am?
- Never studied French? You are a beginner: start at A1.
- You can read this without help: Le commandant est un homme aimable. Il est grand et très calme. Then you know some A1 already; skim the first lessons and go on.
- You understand a sentence in the past, such as Il a pris le bateau hier et il est arrivé à New York? You are probably A2 or above.
- You can read Leblanc’s original, La Provence est un transatlantique rapide, confortable, commandé par le plus affable des hommes, at reading speed? You are B2 or higher.
The quickest test is the course itself: open lesson 1 and see how much of the French you understand before tapping for the English.
What is free, and what is not?
All the lessons, the first review unit, the grammar pages and the glossary are free online, with no account. Review units 2 to 4 are in the A1 book. The books are paid, and they are what keeps the site free. Nothing is sold that is not finished: levels marked “coming soon” or “planned” have no book yet.
Can I read Leblanc in the original?
Yes, and for free: his works are in the public domain (see Arsène Lupin and Maurice Leblanc). The originals are a solid B2–C1 read. The graded readers are the road there.
