Babel

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Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller from the author of The Poppy War, this book is described as "absolutely phenomenal" and a "brilliant, razor-sharp" work that delves into colonial history and the Industrial Revolution. From award-winning author R. F. Kuang, it serves as a thematic response to The Secret History and a tonal retort to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, exploring student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the role of language and translation as tools of the British empire. In 1828, Robin Swift, an orphaned boy from Canton, is taken to London by the enigmatic Professor Lovell. He undergoes years of training in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, preparing to enroll in the Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford, known as Babel. This institution is not only a center for translation but also for magic, where silver working enables the British to dominate through knowledge that fuels their imperial ambitions. For Robin, Oxford initially appears as a utopia for knowledge. However, as a Chinese boy in Britain, he grapples with the reality that serving Babel means betraying his homeland. Caught between Babel and the secretive Hermes Society, which opposes imperial expansion, Robin faces a critical choice as Britain engages in an unjust war with China over silver and opium. He must confront whether meaningful change can occur from within powerful institutions or if revolution necessitates violence.