Deciding to put an actual door stop (a book that is 500 pages or longer) on the schedule takes a little more planning and forethought than when I pick a shorter novel. For a brief moment, I considered simply reading R.F. Kuang's Babel without writing about it. But because it is so long, I imagine there are many readers who are curious about it, but do not want to make the commitment to finishing it. So perhaps I can help a few people in this decision and shed a little more light on a book that has garnered so much attention and won many awards since its publication in 2022.
The Situation: Robin Swift can hardly believe the turn his life has taken. It is 1828, and he has escaped an almost certain death by cholera in his home city of Canton in China. The man responsible from pulling him from a home filled with sickness and death is Professor Lovell, an instructor at Oxford University's Royal Institute of Translation, otherwise known as Babel, where Robin will eventually enroll and train for a hopefully bright future and career. After years of training, and intense focus on Latin, Greek, and Chinese specifically, the goal is for Robin to be employed at the top of the tower, where the silver-working takes place, a practice that has helped Britain become the powerhouse that it is.
The Problem: Robin knows he should be grateful. If he is not reminding himself of how fortunate and privileged he is, especially considering where he came from, there are plenty around him who are happy to do so. Though it is clear that the art of silver-working has aided Britain's ultimate goal of colonization, Robin does his best to look the other way, and rationalize to himself that he is only attempting to survive and secure his own future. But the more he sees, and the more time he spends at Oxford, and the more time he spends with Professor Lovell, the clearer it becomes that using his gifts for language to serve Britain also means betraying where he came from. And when a war is planned against China over silver, Robin decides to take action, unsure if violence will be needed, or perhaps even required.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction and fantasy novel set primarily in early 19th century England. While Oxford University is of course very real, the Royal Institute of Translation is not, and there is no tower resembling the one in this book on its campus. The name 'Babel' is referring to the biblical story from Genesis where the people attempted to build a tower to reach the heavens, but God stopped them from doing so by confusing the languages. In Kuang's book, Robin is brought from his home in Canton (now known as Guangzhou) and is a useful recruit for Babel because he is fluent in Mandarin. The novel deals with colonization, racism, classism, greed, and the power of language and words.
My Verdict: This book is not only for historical fantasy lovers, but also for anyone who proclaims to be a word nerd like myself. Everything is about translation, and the power that comes from being able to communicate and make sense of words. But of course, there are also the bigger issues at hand, such as the reasons why Babel is so interested in languages such as Mandarin, Arabic, and French Creole. Kuang has created a world where an institute like Babel not only exists, but is important because translation allows silver to power an entire nation (and help it take over the world). It is a fascinating take on the idea of words having power and carrying incredible meaning.
Favorite Moment: I appreciated the honest descriptions of life for college students, especially during a high-stakes exams seasoning, and just how on edge students can get.
Favorite Character: Victoire is a French Haitian student who is part of Robin's cohort. She is tough and smart, and incredibly resilient, despite the daily discrimination she faces at Oxford, and the frustrating discussions she must have with her naive and privileged roommate, Letty.
Recommended Reading: Kuang's Yellowface is another novel that explores uncomfortable topics, while also examining the often lonely experience of being an author.
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