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Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence - An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution

by R.F. Kuang
$16.90
Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence - An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence - An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution

Oxford's magical lingual rebellion against colonialism.

Imagine stepping into a world where words wield power and translations can alter reality. "Babel" merges the beauty of language with the dark patterns of history, offering a compelling narrative that's both a magical escapade and a sharp critique of imperialism. As you follow Robin's moral quandaries within the hallowed halls of Oxford, the book challenges you to think about knowledge, power, and the cost of change. If you're drawn to fantasy grounded in historical dilemmas, "Babel" is a profound conversation starter you won't want to miss.

  • Nebula Award for Best Novel (2022)
  • Locus Award for Fantasy Novel (2023)
  • World Fantasy Award Nominee for Novel (2023)
  • British Book Award for Fiction (2023)
  • ALA Alex Award (2023)
  • Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fantasy (2022)
  • Ignyte Award Nominee for Best Novel: Adult (2023)
  • Barnes & Noble Book of the Year Award Nominee (2022)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence - An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution

by R.F. Kuang
$16.90
ISBN: 9780063021426
Authors: R.F. Kuang
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Date of Publication: 2022-08-23
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Related Topics: Urban Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Magical Realism
Goodreads rating: 4.18
(rated by 272868 readers)

Description

From award-winning author R. F. Kuang comes Babel, a historical fantasy epic that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British Empire. 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. The tower and its students are 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 the arcane craft 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?
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

Find out more about our process here.

 

Oxford's magical lingual rebellion against colonialism.

Imagine stepping into a world where words wield power and translations can alter reality. "Babel" merges the beauty of language with the dark patterns of history, offering a compelling narrative that's both a magical escapade and a sharp critique of imperialism. As you follow Robin's moral quandaries within the hallowed halls of Oxford, the book challenges you to think about knowledge, power, and the cost of change. If you're drawn to fantasy grounded in historical dilemmas, "Babel" is a profound conversation starter you won't want to miss.

  • Nebula Award for Best Novel (2022)
  • Locus Award for Fantasy Novel (2023)
  • World Fantasy Award Nominee for Novel (2023)
  • British Book Award for Fiction (2023)
  • ALA Alex Award (2023)
  • Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fantasy (2022)
  • Ignyte Award Nominee for Best Novel: Adult (2023)
  • Barnes & Noble Book of the Year Award Nominee (2022)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.