For classical & homeschool readers
Great Christian classics for high school
The classical and Charlotte Mason tradition prizes living books— primary sources in the author's own voice. These are the great Christian classics in exactly that form: first-person accounts, free to read in the public domain, offered here as clean, study-ready editions with summaries, background, and discussion questions on every page.
- 1
397 · Early Church · Grades 9–12
Confessions
Augustine · 397
The fountainhead of spiritual autobiography and a fixture on classical and great-books lists — a restless, brilliant young man's long road to faith. Rewards close reading and discussion.
- 2
1666 · Puritan England · Grades 8–12
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
John Bunyan · 1666
From the author of Pilgrim's Progress — his own conversion story, plainer and more personal. The natural companion when students read Bunyan's allegory.
- 3
c. 450 · Early Medieval · Grades 7–12
Confessio (The Confession of St. Patrick)
Patrick of Ireland · 450
Short, accessible, and one of only two things Patrick actually wrote — the real account behind the legends, and an easy entry point to the early medieval church.
- 4
203 · Age of Persecution · Grades 8–12
The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity
Vibia Perpetua · 203
The earliest known writing by a Christian woman — a young mother's prison diary. Brief, gripping, and a vivid primary source for the age of the martyrs.
- 5
1565 · Reformation era · Grades 10–12
The Life of St. Teresa of Ávila, Written by Herself
Teresa of Ávila · 1565
A landmark of the spiritual tradition and of women's writing. Her account of prayer and reform suits older, reflective students.
- 6
1789 · Abolition era · Grades 9–12
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Written by Himself
Olaudah Equiano · 1789
The foundational slave narrative — taught across history and literature courses — and a spiritual autobiography too. (Scholars debate parts of his account of his African birth: a good discussion point.)
Questions from homeschool & classical educators
- What are the great Christian classics?
- Among the most widely read are Augustine's Confessions, John Bunyan's Grace Abounding and Pilgrim's Progress, St. Patrick's Confessio, Teresa of Ávila's Life, the Passion of Perpetua, and Olaudah Equiano's Interesting Narrative — first-person accounts that shaped the faith and appear on classical and homeschool reading lists.
- Are these appropriate for high school students?
- Yes. Most suit middle and high school; we note a suggested grade band for each. A few (Augustine, Teresa of Ávila) reward older, more reflective students, while St. Patrick and Perpetua are short and approachable for younger readers.
- Are the texts free to read?
- Yes — all of these are in the public domain, and we link a free source for every title. Our clean editions add careful, readable typesetting; each book's page also carries a summary, background, and a study guide with discussion questions.
- Which of the classic 'five great men' do you carry?
- High-school classical courses often pair Augustine, Bunyan, St. Patrick, John Knox, and John Paton. We publish three of the five — Augustine's Confessions, Bunyan's Grace Abounding, and Patrick's Confessio — as clean, study-ready editions.
More reading lists
T.S. Baker Books — clean editions of the classics, free sources linked.