Babel
Or the Necessity of Violence: an Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
By R.F. Kuang
Harry Hartog's review
"Babel is a masterclass in historically informed, diverse fantasy. It delivers a profound critique of colonialism, while also capturing the deep and fast friendship of four students who all know what it's like to feel alone. The way Kuang plays with language and 'magic' is utterly unique, and when combined with the extremely well-researched Oxford setting, this book proves that she's one of the greatest authors of our time. Her magical realism is crafted with such care that you'll find yourself believing in the power of silver and translation. It's tender, thought provoking, and a punch to the gut all at the same time." - Jemima and Daniella at Harry Hartog Woden ✨
Description
THE #2 SUNDAY TIMES AND #1 NYT 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
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?
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 book 'Babel' was a New York Times bestseller w/c 11-09-2022.
- ISBN:
- 9780008501822
- Format:
- Paperback / softback
- Pages:
- 560
- Published:
- Publisher:
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Imprint:
- HarperVoyager
- Weight:
- 740 g