Babel: A historical fantasy? Or an allegory on the darkness of colonialism?

After reading Babel, R.F. Kuang is officially on my list of autobuy authors. With a magic system steeped in historical believability, Kuang has achieved, in my opinion, one of the most profound and nuanced takes on the dark effects of colonialism. Is it upsetting? Dark? Tragic? Yes. But, it’s a must read. 

Things to Know: 

• Content + Trigger warnings for racism, racist slurs, child abuse, sexism, sexual harassment, terrorism, xenophobia

• Dark Academia vibes

• Set primarily in an alternate Oxford

• There are significant footnotes (similar to Jonathan Strange + Mr. Norrell)

• Highly recommend the audiobook as you get to hear the multiple languages utilized (I switched back and forth between a physical copy + the audiobook) 

Robin, a boy plucked from his home in Canton as a child, is thrust into the world of language and rigorous academic study. With a natural affinity for learning languages, he’s seen as a tool for his guardian to use to ultimately expand the British empire at the expense of, well, everyone else. As he comes of age, he’s sent off to study at Oxford University, in the prestigious and fictional college of translation: Babel. 

I love how Kuang has weaved in actual historical events and inventions into this story, where the magic of silver working molds seamlessly into her new tapestry of British history. 

“English did not just borrow words from other languages; it was stuffed to the brim with foreign influences, a Frankenstein vernacular. And Robin found it incredible, how this country, whose citizens prided themselves so much on being better than the rest of the world, could not make it through an afternoon tea without borrowed goods.” 

My mind is spinning with so many thoughts, and I’m honestly still processing, so I’ll keep this review spoiler free for now. 

Robin’s cohort includes three others, from various ethnic backgrounds, some with similar stories to his own. And while the beginning of the book fills you with their wonder at discovering what they can truly achieve at Babel, they also increasingly question whether it should be done. And is the cost worth it?

“But Robin had been bending for so long. And even a gilded cage was still a cage.” 

Kuang did NOT shy away from showing instances of racism and sexism on campus, and throughout the various locations. There are a few characters I truly loathed. And some I adored.  

“You’re a ship adrift on familiar shores…you fly no one’s flag. You’re free to seek your own harbour. And you can do so much more than tread water.”

This book is truly heartbreaking because you can see how one can start with moral ideals and be driven to violence at the expense of anyone to force people to put a mirror in their faces. Or where righteous indignation turns to revenge. Where is the line? What’s the right answer? We get to see the various characters struggle with these convictions, moral ambiguity, and desire for self preservation. 

“Reality was, after all, just so malleable–facts could be forgotten, truths suppressed, lives seen from only one angle like a trick prism, if only one resolved never to look too closely.” 

I felt challenged to examine my own lived experiences and privilege while reading. Kuang does an excellent job of giving well rounded perspectives on all sides (even the dark and horrific ones). 

“...the public merely wanted all the conveniences of modern life without the guilt of knowing how those conveniences were procured.”

I will be thinking about this book long after finishing it. It’s a fantastic book for starting discussions around what’s happening in our real world. If you love historical fiction, fantasy, and challenging topics, I would highly, highly recommend putting Babel at the top of your TBR pile. 

A last quote I loved: “She held grammar rules the way other women held grudges.”

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