Review: Babel by R. F. Kuang

Babel by R. F. Kuang

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kuang’s Babel is a truly sweeping, epic investigation of colonial Britain in the age of imperialism. It differs from a lot of literature examining British imperialism as Kuang asks some stark and confronting questions to those on the home front. How did people in Britain benefit from the violence overseas? How did they contribute to it? How were they complicit in its atrocities? What plotting and scheming and mechanism were at work to convince the public that the plundering of foreign soil aligned with their morals? Oh, and she does it through a fantasy lens. Although the historic events mostly align with reality; the colonisation of Haiti and India, the push to sell opium in China etc, the Britain of Babel has one key difference. It gains its wealth, power, and technological advancements from harnessing the power of silver. The epicentre of silverwork is the Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford University, also known as Babel. I won’t dissect the ins and outs of the silver aspect because A: spoilers and B: Kuang can do it much better, but to give you a brief idea, the silver bars get their power from what is ‘lost in translation’. In the things that are left out when words are translated from one language to another. The translators work to find pairs of words which when engraved on silver give the bars special powers. For example, some make ships sail faster, some strengthen buildings and some even cure illnesses. Honestly though, even though the fantastical silver element seems as though it will be the defining aspect of Babel it mainly serves as an entry point into Kuang’s compelling analysis of colonialism.

Babel follows the life of Robin Swift, an orphan from Canton, who is taken to London by a Babel professor who trains him to one day join the translation institute. It is there that he meets Ramy, Victoire and Letty a group of outcasts – dazzlingly talented and cripplingly excluded from Oxford life. I have heard criticism that suggest Kuang is too heavy handed with their university content but that was actually one of the parts I found the most fascinating! Kuang’s research into etymology and linguistics really shines through and helps Babel to feel firmly grounded in reality. The group navigates their university education struggling with conflicting desires. They are passionate about language and translation, desperate to fit in and escape the life of poverty and even more extreme prejudice that would face them outside Babel. As Robin and Remy are both people of colour, Letty is a woman and Victoire is both, there is nowhere in Britain that will value their talents as Babel does, and a lack of opportunities in their homelands. However, as time passes, and they sink deeper into the world of Babel they start to question the ethics of what they are doing. A twisted plot is being hatched at Babel and as the narrative unfolds the secrets and conspiracies grow ever deeper and darker as we follow Robin into the thick of it. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Babel. I was equally hooked by the steady world building in this first half and, later, by the sharp increase of narrative pace as things begin to spin out of control.

What I felt Kuang ultimately presented to us is an alternate history that helps the reader break down and critique the real-world ethics of colonialism in a nuanced yet accessible way. I really enjoyed hearing the varied voices and each character’s justifications for their own belief. I don’t normally read much fantasy although technically this is speculative fiction which has a slightly different connotation. I think speculative fiction sums babel up well, the fantasy elements are an accessory which sheds light on and enhances Kuang’s central discussion. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, even if you think you don’t like fantasy, please give it a go!

Love, Grace xx