Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of The Oxford Translators' Revolution

Super Short Summary

Babel, or The Necessity of Violence by R.F. Kuang is set in an alternate 1830s where translation magic fuels British imperialism. The story follows Robin Swift, a boy taken from Canton to study at Oxford's Babel, where he joins a diverse cohort. Through magical translation and silver manipulation, they grapple with their roles in empire-building and ultimately join a rebellious group to dismantle the oppressive system from within. The novel includes depictions of gender-based violence, child abuse, racial violence, and torture.