Babel | R. F. Kuang

Babel: An Arcane History

Extended Synopsis

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, fueling 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.

Caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society—an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion—Robin faces a harrowing choice when Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium. Babel grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the devastating cost of translation as a tool of empire.

Reader Targeting

• Fans of dark academia, historical fantasy, and complex socio-political narratives.
• Readers who enjoy meticulously researched settings and philosophical debates on power and colonialism.
• Audiences of R. F. Kuang's previous acclaimed work, such as The Poppy War.

About the Author

R. F. Kuang is an award-winning author known for her profound and genre-defying narratives. A Marshall Scholar and graduate of Georgetown University, she writes with intellectual rigor, exploring history, linguistics, and the moral complexities of power.

Accolades & Features

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller. Shannon Chakraborty calls it, "Absolutely phenomenal. One of the most brilliant, razor-sharp books I've had the pleasure of reading." This edition includes historical academic footnotes, localized 1830s Oxford maps, and stylistic linguistic layout illustrations.

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