Babel

Name: Babel
Brand: HarperCollins New Zealand
SKU: 9780008501853
Price: 25.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

Or the Necessity of Violence: an Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution

By R.F. Kuang

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4.16

( 418,559 ratings, 79,532 reviews)

Summary

Babel by R.F. Kuang is a thought-provoking fantasy that explores the power of language and translation against the backdrop of an alternate 19th-century Oxford. It follows a young translator who gets embroiled in the secretive workings of a magical institution. The narrative delves into themes of colonialism, identity, and the struggle for liberation, creating a rich tapestry of intrigue and intellectual adventure.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$25⁰⁰

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~~$39⁹⁹~~

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Babel

$25⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$39⁹⁹~~

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this imaginative and thought-provoking tale if you're drawn to historical settings mixed with elements of fantasy. This book explores themes of language, colonialism, and power within an alternate version of Victorian England. The rich world-building and complex characters will captivate those who appreciate a blend of history and imagination in their fiction.

Description

Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.

Oxford, 1836.

The city of dreaming spires.

It is the centre of all knowledge and progress in the world.

And at its centre is Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation. The tower from which all the power of the Empire flows.

Orphaned in Canton and brought to England by a mysterious guardian, Babel seemed like paradise to Robin Swift.

Until it became a prison…

But can a student stand against an empire?

Babel is the #2 Sunday Times and #1 New York Times Bestseller.

'One for Philip Pullman fans' - The Times

'This one is an automatic buy' - Glamour

'Ambitious, sweeping and epic' - Evening Standard

'Razor-sharp' - Daily Mail

'An ingenious fantasy about empire' - Guardian

An incendiary new novel from award-winning author R.F. Kuang about the power of language, the violence of colonialism, and the sacrifices of resistance.

'A masterpiece that resonates with power and knowledge. Babel is a stark picture of the cruelty of empire, a distillation of dark academia, and a riveting blend of fantasy and historical fiction – a monumental achievement.' - Samantha Shannon, author of The Priory of the Orange Tree

R.F. Kuang’s Babel was a New York Times bestseller w/c 11-09-2022.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Babel by R.F. Kuang is acclaimed for its compelling blend of fantasy and history, diving deeply into themes of empire and colonialism. It is noted as a thought-provoking and meticulously researched narrative that intertwines linguistic exploration with a critique of academia and imperial power. The book is celebrated for its incisive storytelling and creativity, earning accolades as a major work in the fantasy genre.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008501853

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 September 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: HarperVoyager

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 40.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 380g

Pages: 560

Collections

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About the Author

Rebecca F. Kuang is a Marshall Scholar, Chinese-English translator, and the Astounding Award-winning and the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Award nominated author of the Poppy War trilogy and Babel. Her work has won the Crawford Award and the Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel. She has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford; she is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale.

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