Call number
SPEC FIC KUA
Collection
Genres
Publication
Harper Voyager (2022), 560 pages
Description
From award-winning author R. F. Kuang comes Babel, a thematic response to The Secret History? and a tonal retort to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British empire. Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal. 1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he'll enroll in Oxford University's prestigious Royal Institute of Translation-also known as Babel. Babel is the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver working- the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars- has made the British unparalleled in power, as its knowledge serves the Empire's quest for colonization. For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide... Can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence?… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member clong
I expected to love this but it proved to be nothing more than unlikable people doing boring things in a setting and universe that had the potential to be fascinating, if only the author had been able to refrain from hitting us over the head with an anti-colonialism two-by-four for more than a
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couple sentences at a time. I hardly ever DNF novels, but for this one I made an exception. Show Less
LibraryThing member bragan
This novel is set in an alternate version of 1830s England, in which the main difference from our world is the existence of a very particular kind of magic, one that involves silver-working and translation. Essentially, two "equivalent" words in different languages are engraved onto a bar of
The story focuses on a young man with the adopted name of Robin Swift, who was born in Canton, where he grew up speaking Mandarin, Cantonese, and (thanks to a very conveniently provided nanny) English. When his mother dies, he is whisked off to England, where he is groomed for Oxford and a life of putting his language skills to work as a magical translator.
A chapter or two into this book, and I was expecting it to be something I would utterly love, something that I could just completely sink into and disappear. The main character and his situation were interesting, the world was interesting, the magic system (which I was still slowly learning about) was really fascinating and original, and the writing was smooth and pulled me right along. But that expectation didn't quite pan out, even though those things pretty much continued to be true, as it ended up not feeling like the kind of book you can "just sink into" at all. It's a book that, instead, wants you to think very hard about the points that it's making and their application to the real world.
Mostly, it's a commentary -- I might even go so far as to call it a polemic -- about the evils of colonialism and the necessity of fighting against them. As such, it actually works very well. Certainly, it's very well thought-out, and the silver-working magic, which requires the kind of bone-deep knowledge of a language most often found in native speakers, serves as a great mechanism to bring together characters from various parts of the world, to give them their own reasons for first accepting and then rejecting the roles they're expected to play for British Empire, and to perhaps find themselves in a position to actually affect the course of history. It also uses the fantasy conceit as a very stark way of highlighting how exploitative these colonial systems are. Basically, while nothing in the novel's message is exactly subtle, none of it feels like it's imposed on the narrative rather than coming out of the characters being who they are in the world that they're in. And Kuang at least doesn't shy away from the disturbing moral complexities of the title's question about "the necessity of violence." So in the end, it feels like something quite a bit meatier, and considerably less annoying, than an author simply lecturing from a soapbox at her readers.
So I did find it worthwhile, and while it wasn't exactly a zippy read, it did a decent job of keeping my attention through most of its 500+ pages. I may have found myself flagging a bit towards the end, but then it finished very strong, and I was pretty well glued to it for the last few chapters.
Rating: I could debate with myself about this more, but I think I'm just going to give it a 4/5 and call it good.
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silver, and everything that is lost in translation between them -- all the connotations and associations and alternate meanings -- are what determines the bar's magical effects.The story focuses on a young man with the adopted name of Robin Swift, who was born in Canton, where he grew up speaking Mandarin, Cantonese, and (thanks to a very conveniently provided nanny) English. When his mother dies, he is whisked off to England, where he is groomed for Oxford and a life of putting his language skills to work as a magical translator.
A chapter or two into this book, and I was expecting it to be something I would utterly love, something that I could just completely sink into and disappear. The main character and his situation were interesting, the world was interesting, the magic system (which I was still slowly learning about) was really fascinating and original, and the writing was smooth and pulled me right along. But that expectation didn't quite pan out, even though those things pretty much continued to be true, as it ended up not feeling like the kind of book you can "just sink into" at all. It's a book that, instead, wants you to think very hard about the points that it's making and their application to the real world.
Mostly, it's a commentary -- I might even go so far as to call it a polemic -- about the evils of colonialism and the necessity of fighting against them. As such, it actually works very well. Certainly, it's very well thought-out, and the silver-working magic, which requires the kind of bone-deep knowledge of a language most often found in native speakers, serves as a great mechanism to bring together characters from various parts of the world, to give them their own reasons for first accepting and then rejecting the roles they're expected to play for British Empire, and to perhaps find themselves in a position to actually affect the course of history. It also uses the fantasy conceit as a very stark way of highlighting how exploitative these colonial systems are. Basically, while nothing in the novel's message is exactly subtle, none of it feels like it's imposed on the narrative rather than coming out of the characters being who they are in the world that they're in. And Kuang at least doesn't shy away from the disturbing moral complexities of the title's question about "the necessity of violence." So in the end, it feels like something quite a bit meatier, and considerably less annoying, than an author simply lecturing from a soapbox at her readers.
So I did find it worthwhile, and while it wasn't exactly a zippy read, it did a decent job of keeping my attention through most of its 500+ pages. I may have found myself flagging a bit towards the end, but then it finished very strong, and I was pretty well glued to it for the last few chapters.
Rating: I could debate with myself about this more, but I think I'm just going to give it a 4/5 and call it good.
Show Less
LibraryThing member NeedMoreShelves
I have been struggling to find words adequate to describe this brilliant novel, and I know I won't be able to do it justice, but I am determined to try.
I've seen Babel described as the author's love-hate letter to academia, and I think that's a great, succinct summation. This is a novel about
This novel explores the ideas of colonization and empire, the ones in power and the ones oppressed. Each of its four main characters are, in different ways, victims of the structures of power. Each character experiences that victimization in different but equally damaging ways. Watching these four grow in friendship and admiration for each other; misunderstand and hurt each other; betray and defend each other - this is magnificent and heartbreaking to read. Each character's small angers are so clear and understandable, that when they reach their breaking points it seems inevitable, even as their rages cause consequences that cannot be forseen.
This book was like nothing I've read before. It was emotional, and infuriating, and rich, and satisfying. It broke my heart. It is a masterpiece.
I've seen Babel described as the author's love-hate letter to academia, and I think that's a great, succinct summation. This is a novel about
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education, in all it's wonders and horrors; about the ways words and ideas can be used for good and for evil; about the ways that learning can make a life more full, and the ways it can make a life more desperate. If you like novels about school, this will be for you.This novel explores the ideas of colonization and empire, the ones in power and the ones oppressed. Each of its four main characters are, in different ways, victims of the structures of power. Each character experiences that victimization in different but equally damaging ways. Watching these four grow in friendship and admiration for each other; misunderstand and hurt each other; betray and defend each other - this is magnificent and heartbreaking to read. Each character's small angers are so clear and understandable, that when they reach their breaking points it seems inevitable, even as their rages cause consequences that cannot be forseen.
This book was like nothing I've read before. It was emotional, and infuriating, and rich, and satisfying. It broke my heart. It is a masterpiece.
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LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
I am not sure where to start with this novel, which I found utterly enthralling. Every now and again one comes across a novel which is so different to anything one has read before, and which strikes such a powerful chord, that one is actually pulled up short by it. This was definitely such a book
In terms of genre, it is, I suppose, a work of fantasy or mild science fiction, offering an alternative version of nineteenth century history. In the world of this book, much of the British Empire has been established and maintained through the manipulation of the magical properties of silver, which when engraved with certain words, releases amazing powers. The words to be engraved are etymologically linked matched pairs of words from current English and their philological cognates ... What! Is that not clear enough?
Well it might prove to be too longwinded for me to try to explain her, and I am, a bit of a philology nerd myself. R F Kuang, however, explains it all admirably, and while I am not overly fond of fantasy works, among which I suppose this marvellous novel might most closely be grouped, I found no trouble at all in suspending any shred of disbelief.
The book has so much to offer. Along with some finely drawn characters, it gives the reader a fascinating insight into the growth and development of language, with a series of painless lessons into social and imperial history of the nineteenth century.
Robin Swift, as the principal protagonist comes to be known, is born in Canton in the 1820s and is orphaned at the age of ten when his impoverished mother succumbs to plague. Robin had never known who his father was, but discovers that he has been supported by an English professor, who takes hm on as a ward, moving him to England and supporting him throughout a private education designed to secure him a place at Oxford University. All that his guardian asks is that Robin work as hard as he can to learn the various languages prescribed by the professor. Robin duly secures a place at the prestigious University College, Oxford, and a scholarship attend the world-renowned Royal Institute of Translation. The Institute, known as Babel, is the heart of the silver production that has powered Britain’s Industrial Revolution and supported the growth of the Empire’.
At the Institute, Robin befriends three other students who have also shown exceptional skill at the acquisition of other languages, and they form a close-knit group. This all sounds fairly jolly so far, but there are darker undercurrents in play. Robin’s clear Chinese heritage has occasionally resulted in him being marked out for instances of discrimination and racial slurs. Even so, his experience has not been as bad as that of two of the other member s of the group, Ramy and Victoire. Ramy is from India while Victoire is from Haiti, and they are both subjected to clear racism of the vilest nature, while Victoire also has to combat the rampant gender discrimination of the time, which did not look kindly at women seeking an academic career. The fourth member of the group is Letty, daughter of an English admiral who has had to bear the weight of his disappointment that she had not been born male.
Their work revolves around mastering the art of translation. This is not merely the rendering of classic works of literature into English, but discovering closely related pairs of words between two languages that might be used to imbue the silver bars with new properties that could be harnessed in ever new ways.
R F Kuang is clearly a very deft linguist herself, and has studied the spread of languages, and their historical growth. I too spent much of my own time as a student and aspiring academic delving into the philology and spread of the Indo-European languages (especially the North Germanic ones), and finding wonder in the semantic shift that such studies revealed. I was pleased to see that one of Kuang’s characters recounted the history of the word ‘Knight’ that I remember expounding to my students. Yet, despite her mastery of difficult subjects, she applies it with a light touch, and the book does not become mired in the technicalities of linguistics which (apparently) some people occasionally find challenging.
The story is well plotted, and conveys a vivid sense of nineteenth century England, and the cloistered atmosphere of academia. The book does not shy away from uncomfortable subjects. Robin comes to see his hitherto privileged life since the death of his mother in different terms, and there are powerful arguments highlighting the horrors of the slavery, and also some of the hypocrisy that followed its formal abolition, where the practice remained but hidden with more comfortable nomenclature. It also casts a disdainful perspective on the horrors of British imperialism. Unfortunately, it is difficult to construct any cogent defence.
My one tiny cavil about the book is a typological one – there are frequent enlightening footnotes, but the asterisks that indicate them are, to my aging eyes, often scarcely noticeable.
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for me. What somehow makes it even more marvellous was that I came upon it largely by chance. I had been making my customary post payday bookhaul at Daunt Books in Marylebone, and was queuing to pay when I heard the woman at the counter discussing it with another customer. I hadn’t heard of it, or noticed the impressive pile of copies at the counter, but she made it sound so enticing that, weak willed as I always am at the suggestion of a new book, I succumbed and quickly added it to my stash. A serendipitous and rewarding decision.In terms of genre, it is, I suppose, a work of fantasy or mild science fiction, offering an alternative version of nineteenth century history. In the world of this book, much of the British Empire has been established and maintained through the manipulation of the magical properties of silver, which when engraved with certain words, releases amazing powers. The words to be engraved are etymologically linked matched pairs of words from current English and their philological cognates ... What! Is that not clear enough?
Well it might prove to be too longwinded for me to try to explain her, and I am, a bit of a philology nerd myself. R F Kuang, however, explains it all admirably, and while I am not overly fond of fantasy works, among which I suppose this marvellous novel might most closely be grouped, I found no trouble at all in suspending any shred of disbelief.
The book has so much to offer. Along with some finely drawn characters, it gives the reader a fascinating insight into the growth and development of language, with a series of painless lessons into social and imperial history of the nineteenth century.
Robin Swift, as the principal protagonist comes to be known, is born in Canton in the 1820s and is orphaned at the age of ten when his impoverished mother succumbs to plague. Robin had never known who his father was, but discovers that he has been supported by an English professor, who takes hm on as a ward, moving him to England and supporting him throughout a private education designed to secure him a place at Oxford University. All that his guardian asks is that Robin work as hard as he can to learn the various languages prescribed by the professor. Robin duly secures a place at the prestigious University College, Oxford, and a scholarship attend the world-renowned Royal Institute of Translation. The Institute, known as Babel, is the heart of the silver production that has powered Britain’s Industrial Revolution and supported the growth of the Empire’.
At the Institute, Robin befriends three other students who have also shown exceptional skill at the acquisition of other languages, and they form a close-knit group. This all sounds fairly jolly so far, but there are darker undercurrents in play. Robin’s clear Chinese heritage has occasionally resulted in him being marked out for instances of discrimination and racial slurs. Even so, his experience has not been as bad as that of two of the other member s of the group, Ramy and Victoire. Ramy is from India while Victoire is from Haiti, and they are both subjected to clear racism of the vilest nature, while Victoire also has to combat the rampant gender discrimination of the time, which did not look kindly at women seeking an academic career. The fourth member of the group is Letty, daughter of an English admiral who has had to bear the weight of his disappointment that she had not been born male.
Their work revolves around mastering the art of translation. This is not merely the rendering of classic works of literature into English, but discovering closely related pairs of words between two languages that might be used to imbue the silver bars with new properties that could be harnessed in ever new ways.
R F Kuang is clearly a very deft linguist herself, and has studied the spread of languages, and their historical growth. I too spent much of my own time as a student and aspiring academic delving into the philology and spread of the Indo-European languages (especially the North Germanic ones), and finding wonder in the semantic shift that such studies revealed. I was pleased to see that one of Kuang’s characters recounted the history of the word ‘Knight’ that I remember expounding to my students. Yet, despite her mastery of difficult subjects, she applies it with a light touch, and the book does not become mired in the technicalities of linguistics which (apparently) some people occasionally find challenging.
The story is well plotted, and conveys a vivid sense of nineteenth century England, and the cloistered atmosphere of academia. The book does not shy away from uncomfortable subjects. Robin comes to see his hitherto privileged life since the death of his mother in different terms, and there are powerful arguments highlighting the horrors of the slavery, and also some of the hypocrisy that followed its formal abolition, where the practice remained but hidden with more comfortable nomenclature. It also casts a disdainful perspective on the horrors of British imperialism. Unfortunately, it is difficult to construct any cogent defence.
My one tiny cavil about the book is a typological one – there are frequent enlightening footnotes, but the asterisks that indicate them are, to my aging eyes, often scarcely noticeable.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Hccpsk
In the author’s note at the beginning of Babel, R.F. Kuang’s final thought is, “...feel free to remind yourself this is a work of fiction.” In her alternate 19th century England, linguists learned to harness the power of language and embed it into silver bars with magical consequences that
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the wealthy whites use to dominate the world. Snatched from his home in Canton, Robin Swift is raised by Professor Lovell in England with one purpose —to attend Oxford and use his skill will language to become one of the famous translators and silver workers. Kuang weaves a complicated tale of friendship, language, colonialism, and foreignness as Robin and his Oxford cohorts work their way through school and realize how the world really works. Readers who heed Kuang’s advice and can let go of reality will be rewarded with the pleasure of this book; readers who cannot will remain frustrated and hung up on the anachronisms and the modern people, ideas, and language. So bring your patience for convoluted linguistic explanations, footnotes, and speculative details and enjoy this well-written and heartbreaking novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member Black-Lilly
I thought it was boring, well written but boring.
I understand the need to explain how language works, so that the magic makes sense, but having a literal lecture on translation philosophy is a bit too much. (Zuviel des Guten.) Already found that boring in university, don't need that in a novel
There is also a huge plot hole or confusion about the grammaticas.
On the one hand it is said that there are back ups all over the place which are updated yearly, yet, if a fire would destroy the tower decades of research would be lost. What is it now?
*spoiler begin*
That's a reason why I thought the whole idea of bringing the tower down was illogical. The main part of the work was still available in other places, especially if they were updated annually. Yes, occupying the tower because of the resonance sticks made sense but destroying it didn't.
"spoiler end"
Other than that, the whole story was at times too slow moving, and even though I liked the characters, who were nicely developed, I actually fell asleep a couple of times while reading.
I am giving three stars because Kuang has a nice writing style and voice and because the ending made up for a lot of the sluggishness in the beginning. (Yet, she could have went on with the allegory of the Bible, are languages now strewn around the world again and no one understands each other anymore?)
I understand the need to explain how language works, so that the magic makes sense, but having a literal lecture on translation philosophy is a bit too much. (Zuviel des Guten.) Already found that boring in university, don't need that in a novel
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either.There is also a huge plot hole or confusion about the grammaticas.
On the one hand it is said that there are back ups all over the place which are updated yearly, yet, if a fire would destroy the tower decades of research would be lost. What is it now?
*spoiler begin*
That's a reason why I thought the whole idea of bringing the tower down was illogical. The main part of the work was still available in other places, especially if they were updated annually. Yes, occupying the tower because of the resonance sticks made sense but destroying it didn't.
"spoiler end"
Other than that, the whole story was at times too slow moving, and even though I liked the characters, who were nicely developed, I actually fell asleep a couple of times while reading.
I am giving three stars because Kuang has a nice writing style and voice and because the ending made up for a lot of the sluggishness in the beginning. (Yet, she could have went on with the allegory of the Bible, are languages now strewn around the world again and no one understands each other anymore?)
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LibraryThing member electrascaife
Set in an AU Oxford College where the world runs on the combined magic powers of silver and language, this is a story of the evils of empire and the sacrifices that are made by those who oppose them.
I *adored* this book. Think His Dark Materials but make it LINGUISTICS. Perfection.
I *adored* this book. Think His Dark Materials but make it LINGUISTICS. Perfection.
LibraryThing member antao
Mr Leopold Bloom's solution for constipation in general (from James Joyce's "Ulysses"):
"Quietly he read, restraining himself, the first column and, yielding but resisting, began the second. Midway, his last resistance yielding, he allowed his bowels to ease themselves quietly as he read, reading
As a kid we could never afford laxatives so my dad use to sit me on my potty and tell me ghost stories. Sometimes when I was at my granny’s house, I used to scream across the house for my sibling to bring some rhubarb compote. In more contemporary terms, my wife would phone me at work to let me know she was breaking a duck right now. I guess I've been lucky to have such a frank women in my life, or maybe the mutual attraction came from us both being full of shit.
This novel is virtually unreadable with all the physical and mental punishments Robin Swift suffers as well as other speaking styles replicated in dialogue and also plot that moves with the pace of a constipated snail. I’d advise Kuang that the easiest was to get rid of narrative constipation is to eat undercooked chicken manufactured in the US. Then follow up with Imodium once cleared out. Of course, after diarrhoea you often get even worse constipation. So, not sure how good an advice this is…
After the awful “The Poppy War”, it appears that SF writers nowadays can be divided into two types - those who get constipated frequently (narratively speaking), and those who don't, but who verge on diarrhoea for some of the time. I don't know which type is preferable though.
This novel is what SF has come down to. Some SF writers are so bunged up that it’s nigh on impossible to read them.
SF = Speculative Fiction.
"Quietly he read, restraining himself, the first column and, yielding but resisting, began the second. Midway, his last resistance yielding, he allowed his bowels to ease themselves quietly as he read, reading
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still patiently, that slight constipation of yesterday quite gone. Hope it's not too big bring on piles again. No, just right. So. Ah! Costive one tabloid of cascara sagrada."As a kid we could never afford laxatives so my dad use to sit me on my potty and tell me ghost stories. Sometimes when I was at my granny’s house, I used to scream across the house for my sibling to bring some rhubarb compote. In more contemporary terms, my wife would phone me at work to let me know she was breaking a duck right now. I guess I've been lucky to have such a frank women in my life, or maybe the mutual attraction came from us both being full of shit.
This novel is virtually unreadable with all the physical and mental punishments Robin Swift suffers as well as other speaking styles replicated in dialogue and also plot that moves with the pace of a constipated snail. I’d advise Kuang that the easiest was to get rid of narrative constipation is to eat undercooked chicken manufactured in the US. Then follow up with Imodium once cleared out. Of course, after diarrhoea you often get even worse constipation. So, not sure how good an advice this is…
After the awful “The Poppy War”, it appears that SF writers nowadays can be divided into two types - those who get constipated frequently (narratively speaking), and those who don't, but who verge on diarrhoea for some of the time. I don't know which type is preferable though.
This novel is what SF has come down to. Some SF writers are so bunged up that it’s nigh on impossible to read them.
SF = Speculative Fiction.
Show Less
LibraryThing member majkia
I enjoyed this at times, got frustrated with it at times, but persevered to the end. Imaginative, but heavy handed at certain points.
LibraryThing member Strider66
Pros: thought provoking, great characters, fascinating discussions
Cons: ending gets brutal, tension drags on
When Robin is saved from cholera in Canton and brought to England his life becomes one of study and languages. He’s sent to Oxford’s translation department, where silver bars are
This is a brilliant book. I found the frequent etymological breakdown of words and the discussions on translation fascinating. The author did an excellent job of showing the fallacies of colonialist thought. It was such a thought provoking story.
The characters were all well fleshed out. Robin is such a conflicted character, not fitting into white society but also no longer Chinese. Told to feel grateful for the opportunities he’s been given but aware that he’s been given no choice regarding his future. I loved Ramy and Victoire and their perspectives on things. I wasn’t as keen on Letty, but she was still an interesting character. I appreciated that we get to see interludes from their perspectives, giving more information about their backgrounds and allowing us to see what led to their convictions.
Towards the end of the book the tension ramps up. It stays high so long though that I found myself needing a break from the book. There is a section of the book towards the end that gets quite brutal, with a lot of people dying in quick succession. It’s not overly graphic, though there is a torture scene. The book also contains period accurate slurs which may be distressing to read.
The book has footnotes, which is great as they give some authorial asides and additional information that’s not essential for the story but fun nonetheless. They also make the book feel more scholarly. They are marked by as star (*) after the text. Clicking the mark is supposed to hyperlink you to the explanatory note at the back of the book. Unfortunately, the first time I tried this is just turned the page, so I didn’t realize it worked (I guess you have to be very careful to hit the star). I ended up using bookmarks to flip between them, but the footnotes aren’t numbered, so I had to be careful to check each one and move my bookmarks so I didn’t lose my place in the 100+ pages of footnotes.
If you like languages and alternate history, though brutal at times, this is a brilliant read you’ll be thinking of for some time after you close the book.
Cons: ending gets brutal, tension drags on
When Robin is saved from cholera in Canton and brought to England his life becomes one of study and languages. He’s sent to Oxford’s translation department, where silver bars are
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inscribed with words that - like magic - power much of Britain’s modernization. The others in his program have also suffered to be a part of it. But they realize their successes are designed to only benefit the British Empire, not the homelands they were torn from and whose languages the silverworking magic is based on.This is a brilliant book. I found the frequent etymological breakdown of words and the discussions on translation fascinating. The author did an excellent job of showing the fallacies of colonialist thought. It was such a thought provoking story.
The characters were all well fleshed out. Robin is such a conflicted character, not fitting into white society but also no longer Chinese. Told to feel grateful for the opportunities he’s been given but aware that he’s been given no choice regarding his future. I loved Ramy and Victoire and their perspectives on things. I wasn’t as keen on Letty, but she was still an interesting character. I appreciated that we get to see interludes from their perspectives, giving more information about their backgrounds and allowing us to see what led to their convictions.
Towards the end of the book the tension ramps up. It stays high so long though that I found myself needing a break from the book. There is a section of the book towards the end that gets quite brutal, with a lot of people dying in quick succession. It’s not overly graphic, though there is a torture scene. The book also contains period accurate slurs which may be distressing to read.
The book has footnotes, which is great as they give some authorial asides and additional information that’s not essential for the story but fun nonetheless. They also make the book feel more scholarly. They are marked by as star (*) after the text. Clicking the mark is supposed to hyperlink you to the explanatory note at the back of the book. Unfortunately, the first time I tried this is just turned the page, so I didn’t realize it worked (I guess you have to be very careful to hit the star). I ended up using bookmarks to flip between them, but the footnotes aren’t numbered, so I had to be careful to check each one and move my bookmarks so I didn’t lose my place in the 100+ pages of footnotes.
If you like languages and alternate history, though brutal at times, this is a brilliant read you’ll be thinking of for some time after you close the book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Guide2
i couldn't really get into this story, so stopped about 1/4 of the way in. it seemed too much of a commitment given the length of the book even if the reviews are quite good. Probably not a good idea to try a second book from the same author after not liking the first book so much. Things
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supposedly pick up later in the book, but not much happens at the beginning. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Babel by R. F. Kuang is, without a doubt, the best book I’ve read this year. Its theme of language usage is a fascinating commentary on imperialism, revolution, and resistance. As compelling as the story is, and it delivers a little nugget of insight on almost every page, the language of the
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story is the true star of Babel. Ms. Kuang’s writing style is perfect. While it most definitely is prose, each sentence has a beauty that feels like poetry. Between the story, that magical setting that is Oxford, and the language, Babel left me in awe. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Show Less
LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
Speculative fiction and alternate histories are very much not my thing. I'm also bad at listening to audiobooks. But this turned out to be the one audiobook novel that worked for me. I think I liked it far more than I would have had I read it as a traditional book, because it's told in a
The book centers on a Dickensian protagonist; Robin Swift is a child when he is found laying next to his mother's dead body in a plague-ridden Canton. Rescued by an Oxford professor, he is taken to London to be rigorously trained in languages so he can study language and translation at the famous Babel tower in Oxford. Translators are necessary to the production and maintenance of "silver," a magical substance that fuels the British Empire, allowing it to colonize and rule countries around the globe. Robin is needed because of his Chinese language skills, and his fellow students are largely (but not entirely) chosen because their native languages are unspoken by the English. As he learns more and meets more people, he comes to see that he is being used in the British war for domination and he discovers a secret society that is fighting back.
For the most part, this is an adventure story, of the kind common in the genre. What separates it from the usual is the detail and ingenuity of the world-building, how well it's written and especially for the ways it discusses translation and colonialism. Sure, the characters were largely exactly who they seemed to be -- the bad guys very bad, the good guys pure of heart and the twists and turns not exactly out of the ordinary, but the way this novel talked about translation and colonialism and how they are tied together, has resonance in this non-imaginary world and were anything but simplistic; they were fascinating.
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straightforward way, plot-driven and with characters that are YA in their simplicity (although this is not a YA novel). The book centers on a Dickensian protagonist; Robin Swift is a child when he is found laying next to his mother's dead body in a plague-ridden Canton. Rescued by an Oxford professor, he is taken to London to be rigorously trained in languages so he can study language and translation at the famous Babel tower in Oxford. Translators are necessary to the production and maintenance of "silver," a magical substance that fuels the British Empire, allowing it to colonize and rule countries around the globe. Robin is needed because of his Chinese language skills, and his fellow students are largely (but not entirely) chosen because their native languages are unspoken by the English. As he learns more and meets more people, he comes to see that he is being used in the British war for domination and he discovers a secret society that is fighting back.
For the most part, this is an adventure story, of the kind common in the genre. What separates it from the usual is the detail and ingenuity of the world-building, how well it's written and especially for the ways it discusses translation and colonialism. Sure, the characters were largely exactly who they seemed to be -- the bad guys very bad, the good guys pure of heart and the twists and turns not exactly out of the ordinary, but the way this novel talked about translation and colonialism and how they are tied together, has resonance in this non-imaginary world and were anything but simplistic; they were fascinating.
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LibraryThing member pgchuis
This is not a genre I typically read, and I did struggle a bit with the whole silver/magic aspect - I'm not sure what it added to England's empirical ambitions over and above what actually happened in history. I also found it hard to remember that the story was set in the Victorian era - many of
On the other hand, I thought Robin's character was very well drawn, and there were a couple of truly shocking moments in the plot, even if it did drag out a bit at the end. On a very minor point, the asterisks denoting a footnote were so tiny I kept failing to spot them in the main text.
Recommended.
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the attitudes and speech patterns were very modern.On the other hand, I thought Robin's character was very well drawn, and there were a couple of truly shocking moments in the plot, even if it did drag out a bit at the end. On a very minor point, the asterisks denoting a footnote were so tiny I kept failing to spot them in the main text.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member Castlelass
Combination of alternate history and dark academia with a magical element relating to the properties of silver. The story revolves around a group of translators living in the fictional tower of Babel in the middle of Oxford University in the 1830s. The special properties of silver are activated by
The story is centered on the life of Robin Swift. After his Chinese mother dies of cholera, he is taken from Canton to England by a professor, soon revealed to be his father. He embarks on a classical education in languages, and develops friendships with three other students, (one from Haiti via France, one from India, and one from England). The storyline follows their increasing awareness of the nefarious goals of Babel, as well as the existence of an underground resistance movement.
This book contains many elements that appeal to me, including linguistics, etymology, and literary references. I particularly enjoyed the portions involving translation techniques, language linkages throughout the ages, and the power of words to induce change. The characters are easy to root for and exhibit growth throughout the narrative.
It is an anti-colonialist story where silver stands for the resources that colonial powers extracted from the countries they occupied. I am normally not a huge fan of magical realism, but I think the use of silver works well here. Silver in this context serves a larger purpose and is easily envisioned as the impetus for an industrial revolution. I am impressed by the author’s ability to bring these many diverse factors into a story that remains relevant to today’s world in terms of commercial exploitation of resources and the corresponding impact on labor.
There is a pleasing complexity to this book. Preparations for the Opium Wars play a key role in the plot. It includes numerous footnotes that provide added insight and depth to the story. The author provides notes on what is real versus fictionalized.
It is obvious that the author has a keen interest in her material. She develops a world that is easy to become immersed in, especially for readers who don’t mind a slow build to a dramatic climax. If I have a slight criticism, it is that the book could have been shorter, but I do not generally mind longer books if they are as well-crafted as this one. It is not a cheery book, but one well worth reading. The author has done a beautiful job of creating an alternate world, telling an intricate story populated with multifaceted characters, and engaging in relevant social commentary all at once. Quite an accomplishment!
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combinations of words. They have brought in students from around the world to expand access to these linguistic combinations. Silver-working has enabled Great Britain to achieve an advanced society and economic dominance.The story is centered on the life of Robin Swift. After his Chinese mother dies of cholera, he is taken from Canton to England by a professor, soon revealed to be his father. He embarks on a classical education in languages, and develops friendships with three other students, (one from Haiti via France, one from India, and one from England). The storyline follows their increasing awareness of the nefarious goals of Babel, as well as the existence of an underground resistance movement.
This book contains many elements that appeal to me, including linguistics, etymology, and literary references. I particularly enjoyed the portions involving translation techniques, language linkages throughout the ages, and the power of words to induce change. The characters are easy to root for and exhibit growth throughout the narrative.
It is an anti-colonialist story where silver stands for the resources that colonial powers extracted from the countries they occupied. I am normally not a huge fan of magical realism, but I think the use of silver works well here. Silver in this context serves a larger purpose and is easily envisioned as the impetus for an industrial revolution. I am impressed by the author’s ability to bring these many diverse factors into a story that remains relevant to today’s world in terms of commercial exploitation of resources and the corresponding impact on labor.
There is a pleasing complexity to this book. Preparations for the Opium Wars play a key role in the plot. It includes numerous footnotes that provide added insight and depth to the story. The author provides notes on what is real versus fictionalized.
It is obvious that the author has a keen interest in her material. She develops a world that is easy to become immersed in, especially for readers who don’t mind a slow build to a dramatic climax. If I have a slight criticism, it is that the book could have been shorter, but I do not generally mind longer books if they are as well-crafted as this one. It is not a cheery book, but one well worth reading. The author has done a beautiful job of creating an alternate world, telling an intricate story populated with multifaceted characters, and engaging in relevant social commentary all at once. Quite an accomplishment!
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LibraryThing member ScoLgo
After being disappointed in The Poppy War, I decided to give the author another go and ended up liking this more than I expected. It's a bit of a slow burn with deep dives into the meaning of words in different languages and the translations between them. The characters are fleshed out and, while
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they don't always make the best choices, I found it easy to understand and empathize with their viewpoints. I give this story a solid 7/10 rating and am now more likely to read more by Kuang in the future. Show Less
LibraryThing member KallieGrace
I liked this more than I thought I would, having heard it was pretty dry and in your face about its point. This is a fantasy about the British empire trying to colonize, as it does, with the magic made from silver bars given power through language. It focused on a pending war with China, and the
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protagonist is from China but is basically a ward of Oxford. He pretty quickly figures out that he is being used as a resource against his home country, and begins to see colonialism everywhere, so he fights back. The fantasy element that the source of power is so easily removed from an empire provides a satisfying, though bittersweet end. Show Less
LibraryThing member quondame
A readable reliably paced story, with interesting and attractive characters to follow and nasty villains and systems. It is a hate letter to British Imperialism as seen by the privileged but visually foreign Oxford scholars whose language skills are being used to support the Empire. The magic
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system, based on silver and the betrayal of translation, primarily serves to provide the reason for the foreign raised students financially secure lives but also the inevitably employed weakness in the system. It is not a comfy read for Anglophiles, and does get tiring in its single, well fortified note, but the early 19th century British Imperialists were not all that lovable. Show Less
LibraryThing member spiritedstardust
3.5
This was very well written and researched - but I feel like it could have been extremely condensed, it went on for too long and was weighed down with a lot of unnecessary academia.
I liked the background plot more than the heavy focus on the study of languages. Despite spending a lot of time
The longer the book went the more inept Robin felt to me. This also explores issues like sexism, racism, classism, privilege etc.
I can see why many loved it but it didn’t live up to the crazy hype for me.
This was very well written and researched - but I feel like it could have been extremely condensed, it went on for too long and was weighed down with a lot of unnecessary academia.
I liked the background plot more than the heavy focus on the study of languages. Despite spending a lot of time
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with the characters there were not many I liked (Victoire - not sure how it’s spelled as I listens to the audio, and professor craft).The longer the book went the more inept Robin felt to me. This also explores issues like sexism, racism, classism, privilege etc.
I can see why many loved it but it didn’t live up to the crazy hype for me.
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LibraryThing member Charon07
Although it’s billed as an “alternative” history and a fantasy, the only “alternative” part of this history is the Oxford translators’ revolution itself, and the fantastical element is really unnecessary altogether except insofar as it enables the premise of the translators’
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revolution. What it really is, is a thinly disguised political fiction about the history and effects (racism, poverty, income inequity, classism) of colonialism and capitalism. I must admit that I wouldn’t have read it without the promise of the window dressing of linguistics and magic, so maybe I’m judging it too harshly for failing to live up to its promise, but it didn’t seem to have much new to say on the subject of colonialism, and the characters weren’t engaging enough to make their plight into a humanizing look at the societal effects and evoke a heartfelt rather than purely intellectual empathy. Show Less
LibraryThing member JBD1
An absolutely cracking read of an alternative history set in late-1820s Oxford in which translation and silver-working play a tremendous role. Great world-building and a really provocative premise.
LibraryThing member Shrike58
When this book first came to my attention I had two primary thoughts. First, that it was great to be getting more fiction from Ms. Kuang, as she herself wasn't sure that she had another novel in her. However, there is also the small matter that I'm not a particular enthusiast of 19th-century
So, having engaged with "Babel," I come away with mixed feelings. The prose is polished, Robin Swift (the main POV) is believable, and Kuang does get her points across. That might be the major issue; whatever else this book is it's a polemic, and polemics should be short and sharp, as opposed to being narrative bricks. Another point is that I tend to agree with the folks who think that Kuang could do better with her antagonists, and this is speaking as someone who is far from enthralled with the image of the British Empire. Three, in regards to the climax, this only makes sense if you appreciate that, for Chinese patriots and sympathizers, the First Opium War was where matters all went wrong for China, setting in train events that, into the current day, give you the atrocities of the Chinese Communist Party. Violence committed in the name of averting the disaster of colonization could be argued to be worth it.
In the end then, I'm left with the opinion that this book is an interesting experiment that I was happy to have the chance to read, but which doesn't quite hit the mark.
Also, as a public service, those interested in the real history of this period might wish to read Stephen R. Platt's "Imperial Twilight," which deals with how poor communications and imperial arrogance in both Beijing and London contributed to disaster. Whatever caveats I may have about Kuang's execution, it's thematically on target.
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British literature, and it was not clear how the concept I was being presented was going to work.So, having engaged with "Babel," I come away with mixed feelings. The prose is polished, Robin Swift (the main POV) is believable, and Kuang does get her points across. That might be the major issue; whatever else this book is it's a polemic, and polemics should be short and sharp, as opposed to being narrative bricks. Another point is that I tend to agree with the folks who think that Kuang could do better with her antagonists, and this is speaking as someone who is far from enthralled with the image of the British Empire. Three, in regards to the climax, this only makes sense if you appreciate that, for Chinese patriots and sympathizers, the First Opium War was where matters all went wrong for China, setting in train events that, into the current day, give you the atrocities of the Chinese Communist Party. Violence committed in the name of averting the disaster of colonization could be argued to be worth it.
In the end then, I'm left with the opinion that this book is an interesting experiment that I was happy to have the chance to read, but which doesn't quite hit the mark.
Also, as a public service, those interested in the real history of this period might wish to read Stephen R. Platt's "Imperial Twilight," which deals with how poor communications and imperial arrogance in both Beijing and London contributed to disaster. Whatever caveats I may have about Kuang's execution, it's thematically on target.
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LibraryThing member ladycato
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
Babel is a complicated work of fantasy, and requires a complicated review. It takes place in an alt history 19th century, wherein the might of the British empire is being empowered through the strength of magic derived from the use of silver and linguistic
As a work of research, this book is masterful. Kuang knows languages, knows Oxford, and this is a novel that word geeks will delight in... or like me, delight in to a point. The book succeeds in channeling an academic voice, footnotes and all, and is a slog to read. The plot isn't big on action, but on revelation. The deep criticism of colonialism and empire-building is fascinating, educational, and quite often horrific, because it's very clear that everything is based on fact even if given a magical bent. The characters are incredibly well-done, too, complex and real. If you've read Kuang's other books, you know she handles the dark shades of people with deftness, and she does so again here.
The book slowly yet surely built up to an ending that left me surprised only in that the major point of plot resolution was blatant very early on. I expected it to go a different way but it didn't, leaving me feeling flat at the conclusion.
Babel is a complicated work of fantasy, and requires a complicated review. It takes place in an alt history 19th century, wherein the might of the British empire is being empowered through the strength of magic derived from the use of silver and linguistic
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word play. The narrative primarily follows Robin, born and raised in China. After his mother dies, he's taken in by a white Oxford professor and brought to England, where his linguistic skills are cultivated with a goal of eventual education at the great tower known as Babel in Oxford. As a work of research, this book is masterful. Kuang knows languages, knows Oxford, and this is a novel that word geeks will delight in... or like me, delight in to a point. The book succeeds in channeling an academic voice, footnotes and all, and is a slog to read. The plot isn't big on action, but on revelation. The deep criticism of colonialism and empire-building is fascinating, educational, and quite often horrific, because it's very clear that everything is based on fact even if given a magical bent. The characters are incredibly well-done, too, complex and real. If you've read Kuang's other books, you know she handles the dark shades of people with deftness, and she does so again here.
The book slowly yet surely built up to an ending that left me surprised only in that the major point of plot resolution was blatant very early on. I expected it to go a different way but it didn't, leaving me feeling flat at the conclusion.
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LibraryThing member DesertMoon
What a stunning book. Protagonist Robin Swift is taken from his native China and raised to become a student at Oxford by Professor Lowell. Professor Lowell is his father, but won't claim Robin as anything other than a "ward" and has Robin sign a contract promising to study hard and later on attend
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Oxford. Show Less
LibraryThing member rivkat
et in an alternate world where Britain rules the seas and much of the land in part because of its near-monopoly on the magical powers of silver through its near-monopoly on translation. If properly inscribed and activated by a translator, silver can perform wonders based on nearly-matching pairs of
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words with slightly different meanings in different languages. Robin, a young Cantonese boy whose mother dies of illness, is taken by a British scholar to train as a translator at Oxford, the heart of silverworking and translation. He learns to love translation but also experiences discrimination and discovers the oppressive foundations of the world that makes him mostly happy. Because it was Kuang, I was desperately worried for the fates of the characters I grew to care about, and many do come to unhappy ends. The magic system and associated discussion of translation is fascinating; the politics are both pessimistic and fiery, a bit crude like real political arguments are. Show Less
Awards
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novel — 2022)
Locus Award (Finalist — Fantasy Novel — 2023)
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novel — 2023)
The Morning News Tournament of Books (Finalist — 2023)
Alex Award (2023)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Fantasy — 2023)
British Book Award (Shortlist — 2023)
Sidewise Award (Finalist — 2022)
Waterstones Book of the Year (Shortlist — 2022)
Kurd Laßwitz Preis (Nominat — 2024)
Ignyte Award (Shortlist — 2023)
Zsoldos Péter Award (Finalist — 2024)
Blackwell's Book of the Year (Shortlist — Fiction — 2022)
Utopia Award (Nominee — 2023)
Dragon Award (Finalist — Fantasy Novel — 2023)
New England Book Award (Finalist — 2022)
Booklist Editor's Choice: Adult Books (Genre Fiction — 2022)
NPR: Books We Love (2022)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Science Fiction and Fantasy — 2022)
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — August 2022)
Pages
560
ISBN
0063021420 / 9780063021426