Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
She learned revolution is, in fact, always unimaginable. It shatters the world you know. The future is unwritten, brimming with potential. The colonizers have no idea what is coming, and that makes them panic. It terrifies them.
Good. It should.
Author: R.F. Kuang
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Publication Date: August 2022
Number of Pages: 545
Geographical Setting: Largely set in Oxford with glimpses of Canton.
Time Period: 1830s
Series: Stand-Alone
Plot Summary:
Set in a magical and arcane Oxford, the novel follows Robin Swift. His is an Oxford and an England that is reliant on the magical silver workings created in the tower, Babel, at Oxford. Robin was just a young boy when he made a deal with Professor Lovell in order to come to London and be tutored to eventually attend Oxford. He studies hard and is eventually deemed ready to head off to Oxford, where he meets his cohort, Ramy, Letty, & Victoire who quickly become the closest thing he has to a real family. When he stumbles upon a man who looks exactly like him, suddenly his world is turned on its axis. Suddenly he finds himself working for an organization that works to undermine the Empire. He finds himself embroiled in a battle for the very soul of his homeland, one that can only prove the necessity of violence.
Subject Headings:
Orphans; Imperialism; Secret Societies
Fantasy Appeal:
Detailed Setting: While this is set in an Oxford that looks much like the one that we know there are differences that make the Oxford of Babel stand in stark contrast. Kaung spends the first 300 pages laying out the idiosyncrasies of this Oxford and the intricacies of silver working.
Good Triumphs Over Evil: **SPOILER** The main character of the novel knows that there is only one way to help stop the war that is threatening to break out in Canton... and that is to bring down the entire institution down upon himself.
Tone: A large part of this novel centers around learning language and being at university, much of the book has a tone of
Characterization: While the evil entity at large is the British Empire, the evil traits can be attributed to most if not all rich, white men in the novel. Robin Swift is the opposite of this. He is a poor orphan from Canton. He is a person of color in a land that only benefits white land-holding men. All who were willingly part of the revolution were transplanted people of color.
Language: There is great importance put on language in this novel. There are a great number of etymologies described whether by the characters themselves or in footnotes.
Extensive World-Building: Babel moves at what feels like a glacial pace for the first 300 pages, but this is because Kuang spent her time crafting the Oxford of Babel. She creates a rich and detailed world.
3 terms that best describe this book:
Dark Academia; Intricate Plot; Magical
3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works
The Silk Roads: a new history of the world by Peter Frankopan: A dive into the historical importance of the Asian Silk Roads.
Legacy of violence: a history of the British empire by Caroline Elkins: A history of how the British Empire used violence to exploit its imperial colonies.
Geography is destiny: Britain and the world: a 10,000-year history by Ian Morris: An exploration of Britain's history and how they turned every new technology to their advantage.
3 Relevant Fiction Works
Ninth House Leigh Bardugo: Dark academia at Yale. Filled with intrigue and secret societies.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab: When she makes a deal with the devil she is forced to experience history but never leave a mark.
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean: A book with an intricate plot about those who hide among us.
Gotta say, I love the anti-colonizer sentiments I got from your review.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's been a long time since I've read an intricate fantasy novel, but the idea of spending 300 pages of a 545 page book on world-building sounds exhausting. I've been reading a lot of much shorter fiction lately, and as much as I was interested in this book when I heard it was coming out, I've been too daunted by the length to actually start it. But anti-imperialism! Is such a good reason to try it!
This book was VERY anti-colonizer! It was interesting to see the main character grapple with being against the institution, but also benefiting from it. I think it is worth the read, but go into it knowing that the author is trying to make this a very flushed out world.
DeleteI read another R.F. Kuang book for this week! "The Poppy War" - and then I promptly checked out the second, and now I'm about 75% of the way done with the third and final of the trilogy. I haven't binged through a series this quickly since high school.
ReplyDeleteI have currently have Babel on hold. OBSESSED with this author now. I will read anything she writes. The world-building is *fantastic* and you get a political point of view that I feel is new and exciting for fantasy fiction.
While I love a good book that focuses on world building, the catalyst that kicks off the main plot point doesn't happen until you are more than 300 pages in! It was just really hard to maintain interest in the book while I kept waiting for something to happen.
DeleteJonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is written in a similar way. The first few hundred pages are so slow ans there is no magic until it returns and the story finally picks up. When it does pick up it is worth it. I might give this book a try and see if it is worth it.
DeleteIs the individual who looks like Robin his doppelgänger, or is there any mythology in the novel?
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you highlighted this novel’s coverage of issues of racism and colonialism or imperialism; such topics should not be just represented but represented truthfully, without glossing over them, in a novel.
One aspect of your post I found particularly interesting was about etymologies; I took an etymology class in high school that I found interesting and still reflect upon with fondness. I would not have expected etymology to show up in this genre, but it sounds like, from your description, the author’s choice added another depth to the novel.
Finally, aside from providing a deeper understanding of imperialism in the novel, your read-alike, Legacy of Violence, is also important for readers to understand the historical context and implications of British imperialism.
No mythology. I was just trying to skirt around a major plot point without giving it away!
DeleteI took history of the English language when I was in undergrad and we talk about entomologies a lot as the two are intertwined. I liked that this book goes over how a lot of words came to be and how they we changed to fit their new language.
Hi Danyelle, I have considered reading this book a few times, but I sometimes worry about reading longer books because I can get distracted by other things and nit come back to them. I have quite a few Goodreads friends who have read it though, and it was suggested to me because I read and enjoy dark academia books. Do you think this would be enjoyable as an audiobook?
ReplyDeleteI order to get through the book faster, I actually listened to part of the book. I think that as far as audiobooks go, it is pretty good!
DeleteI've heard good things about The Priory of the Orange Tree. It's another every large book and that is probably the most daunting thing about reading it.
ReplyDeleteFantastic annotation! I keep seeing this title come up. I feel like fantasy books are having a bit of a resurgence. Great job and full points!
ReplyDelete