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" is a remarkable literary work that delves deep into various facets of translation, colonialism, and their real-world implications. I saw this recommend on TikTok so many times and was going to ignore it because TikTok recommendations are a very specific brand of content that I don't usually enjoy, but the recommendation for this one was so remarkable that I felt I had to see for myself. One of the standout features of this book is its insightful commentary on colonialism. The parallels between translation and colonialism are clear and obvious, without being condescending. I found it to be a beautiful and thoughtful workup that really encourages the reader to explore what it means to exist in the systems we've created. Even though the book is obviously fictional, the principles are real and current. Through well-researched examples and analysis, the book sheds light on the complex relationship between language, culture, and colonialism, making it an invaluable resource for understanding this historical context. Beyond being a historical account, "Babel" demonstrates the real-world applicability of its themes. It draws parallels between past colonial practices and contemporary issues, emphasizing how the legacy of colonialism continues to influence our global society, which isn't a new idea for some people but needs frequent reminding I think. The book's narrative is infused with a sense of tragedy, as it explores the injustices and suffering caused by colonialism and this emotional depth made personal through the unique and nuanced characters of the story adds a powerful layer to the storytelling, making it a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read. I cried a lot but mostly felt a consistent heartache throughout that literally never got better. The whole story is so tragic and yet so understandable- so realistic- which makes it all the more devastating. I felt incredibly resigned throughout the whole book. The author's incredible talent for foreshadowing and painting parallels gives you a very clear idea of where the book is going from the beginning and even so, like any incredible writer, you are still devastated when you get there. I couldn't help but invest myself in hope, even knowing where things would end. "Babel" also impresses with its meticulous research and intellectual rigor. The author's depth of knowledge and scholarly approach shine through in every chapter. The book is not only informative but also intellectually stimulating, inviting readers to engage deeply with its content. I enjoy all the context for actual translations.To summarize, "Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution" is a masterful exploration of translation, colonialism, and their lasting impact on our world. Its excellent commentary, real-world relevance, tragic undertones, and scholarly depth make it a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of language, power, and history.

I really enjoyed the real history in this book! I wonder if Letty will hunt her down in another book.

The book is inventive and magical. The characters are compelling. The historical depth - and present day immediacy- are stunning. It captures perfectly the divided consciousness of a student thrilled by acceptance into a scholarly elite, while gradually realizing their complicity in imperialism. I love the linguistics and wordplay and the references to rebellious history, from Haiti to E.P. Thompson.

I'm terribly split on this book. This is a book about big ideas and the author did not skimp on world building and the research needed to support her themes. At the same time I found the story of the main character to be rather predictable.

There's a lot wrong with this book. I'm still giving it 5 stars, but let me start with the problems:The first 50% to 60% of the book is bloated to being borderline unreadable. Honestly, you could probably skip 3/4 of every page in the first half and lose nothing. There's a lot of "school days friendship" minutiae that lends nothing to the plot while still managing to leave the characters fairly undeveloped.I have two college degrees and I read research papers for fun. This book tries way too hard to uphold an "academic" aesthetic with constant references to "academic" material. Then, in the same breath, it seems to say the same readers it expects to appreciate all these literary references aren't smart enough to pick up on the themes of colonialism and oppression unless they're lambasted with them for 300+ pages before anything interesting happens.That being said, this IS a story about colonialism and oppression. It does deliver its message that often, those who oppress by violence can only ever be stopped by experiencing violence in return. It's a poignant story, it has a powerful ending, and yes, this alternate fantasy history does come full circle and close out the story well in the end.So I'm giving it five stars for the story it told, even if the execution was almost painful at times. I actually nearly dropped this book in the DNF pile because it was such a slog, and I only pushed through because I refused to believe that a book over 500 pages had nothing to offer. Unfortunately, most of what it had to offer was in the last pages of the book.I regularly read novels of this length with no problem, and I actually like academic and literary references, but this felt more like "look at all the things these kids know about, they're SO smart" than anything that had any real bearing on the story. In fact, the story "Babel" tells could easily be condensed down to around 300 pages, and would probably deliver a harder hit if it was. It's been five months since I bought and read this book. To this day, the overall themes and story still come back to me. But even as I write this, I can't remember a single character's name, more than three main events, or pretty much any of the first half of the book.The vast majority of it is just forgettable, even if the deeper concepts resonate. I do suggest reading this book...but I also wholeheartedly encourage anyone feeling like it's going to slow to just go ahead and skip a handful of pages at a time. As long as you keep up with the overarching plot (which is actually very short) you won't miss too much.

I'd previously read R.F. Kuang's "The Poppy War" and loved it, so of course had to get a copy of "Babel", which at the time was storming its way into readers' hearts around the world and rising to well-deserved heights on so many best-seller lists.Having last night finished reading this remarkable novel, I am now only sorry that I'd left it languishing for so long in my TBR (to be read) pile on my coffee table!Truly, any review of mine at this point would pale by comparison to the praise this fabulous work has already received. I can but echo all the comments and accolades already impressed upon the dust jacket. And, as if it's not already clear, let me simply add that I loved this book. The author's tremendous depth of research shows, while her skillful storytelling shines on every page. Even adding the *footnotes where appropriate to help contextualize things was a fabulous touch. Academia, historical fantasy, the power of language, the devastation of people lost in the churn of politics, greed, and power whether as insiders or those on the outside looking in.This is not a casual read, but it will draw you deep into itself and take you on a most impressive journey into how language, translation, and the control of resources can propel a nation forward, or light the fuse that may cripple it.

It looks a bit cheap but it’s reasonable for the price

Intrigante demais e muito bem escrito, difícil ler um capítulo só, a história prende demais!!

It’s not an easy task to review a book that is such a monolith of ideas. I loved the whole vision and the narrative voice - a genuinely vivid and energetic mind telling a truly compelling story. The various references to Dickens are a clear indication of the writers love of great imaginative storytelling and the book is exactly that. A very intelligent book that deserves reading for its uncompromising attack on the British Empire and its rewriting of history through the eyes of four young men and women trapped in its system of double standards and hypocrisy. Vast in its vision and genuinely moving in the choices its characters make. Occasionally such truths are slightly tarnished by echoes of fashionable politically correctness while the strength of the book’s ideas and characters in themselves establish an unquestionable critique and system of values that does the job far more effectively than any dogmatic adherence to cancel culture or the like. A real standout book that despite being labeled as a YA novel involves a widely-read adult reader such as myself. Very much recommended.

“An act of translation is necessarily an act of betrayal” concludes a character in the book and that essentially forms the crux of this novel — it starts with the hope that translation can bridge different cultures, but the protagonists soon discover that the power of words can tear people apart in a colonial framework.Babel is a historical fantasy novel set in an alternate version of early 19th century England where the Royal Institute of Translation in Oxford (or Babel) drives the country’s technological prowess and colonial ambitions. Translators use silver bars enchanted with “match pairs” in different languages to do so. Robin Swift, Ramy Mirza, Victoire Desgraves and Letty Price enrol at Babel, longing to belong and grappling with their loyalties to their capitalist masters and their people.Kuang's writing is accessible, simple, and fast-paced, yet insightful with her detailed exploration of the etymology of words in multiple languages. She liberally uses footnotes throughout the book. These range from pure fiction to reality, are often quirky, but significantly add to the book. However, at times, I felt the plot was somewhat formulaic — she has taken standard tropes such as racism (Robin’s real Chinese name is never revealed), capitalism and callousness (the willingness to profit from opium even at the expense of a generation’s well-being), friendship and betrayal, and same-sex love (with subtle hints) and checked them against her plot.The varied tempo of her writing was another slight gripe for me. While the book is somewhat of a page-turner, the story moves along at a very rapid clip in the first third of the book while it gets stretched out in the concluding parts. Nevertheless, as Robin feels as a young child, “what a pleasure it was to hold the weight of an entire, finished story” in my hands!Pros: Inventive plot, insightful and pacyCons: Slightly clichéd, varying pace