Babel

Babel by R.F. Kuang is an extraordinary journey into the heart of 19th-century Oxford, where the collision of language and power fuels an epic tale of revolution and resistance. At the centre of this narrative is Robin Swift, an orphan from Canton who is brought to England by a mysterious and scholarly guardian. Enthralled by the grandeur of his new life at the Royal Institute of Translation, also known as Babel, Robin soon discovers that this paradise is shadowed by the oppressive power structures of the British Empire.

Oxford, 1836. In the city of dreaming spires, Babel stands as the pinnacle of academic achievement and intellectual pursuit. It is here that the brightest minds from around the world convene, tasked with translating and preserving languages—an endeavour that is not merely academic, but crucial for maintaining the Empire's dominion. Translation, however, is revealed to be a double-edged sword, rife with complexities and betrayals.

As Robin delves deeper into his studies, he becomes increasingly aware of the brutal realities underpinning Babel’s splendour. The once-idyllic Institute transforms into a gilded prison, exposing the systemic injustices and exploitation necessary to sustain the colonial enterprise. Caught in an escalating conflict between his loyalty to his benefactors and his newfound understanding of the Empire's violent foundations, Robin faces an impossible choice: to embrace complicity or to risk everything in the name of justice.

R.F. Kuang's Babel is an incendiary work of historical fantasy that masterfully intertwines the intricacies of language with the stark brutality of colonisation. It is a narrative that challenges the reader to contemplate the true cost of knowledge and the sacrifices required for resistance. With themes of power, identity, and cultural hegemony, the novel offers a profound commentary on the ethics of translation and the far-reaching impacts of imperialism.

'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

Babel has garnered acclaim from critics and readers alike, earning its place as a #2 Sunday Times and #1 New York Times bestseller. Praised as 'ambitious, sweeping, and epic' by the Evening Standard and 'razor-sharp' by the Daily Mail, this novel is an essential read for fans of literary fiction and compelling narratives.

An ingenious fantasy about the complexities of empire, Babel promises to captivate and challenge, echoing the sentiment that traduttore, traditore: an act of translation is always an act of betrayal.