Babel by R.F. Kuang is, in my opinion, a brilliant book—despite the fact that a lot of people on Reddit seem to hate it. And I mean really hate it. Personally, I half love it, because it so well-researched but the ending just wasn’t what I hoped for…
Babel revolves around a group of scholars in the department of languages and translation at Oxford. Their work involves finding different words that—when inscribed onto silver bars—produce magic that comes from magic comes from the slight differences in their meanings. This magic powers empires buildings and technology, basically making the empire stronger and richer.
Our main characters are young scholars from colonized countries who come to Oxford to study translation and become the inscribers of these silver bars. And as you can probably guess, this setup creates conflict—colonized people being used to power the 19th-century England while their own countries remain exploited and impoverished. You get it. The themes of anti-colonialism and racism are deeply prevalent here. Set mainly in Oxford University, the book gives off a strong dark academia vibe.
One of the things I really loved about this book was its diverse cast of characters. These young scholars come from different colonized nations, each bringing their own language, background, and perspective, and these differences ultimately unite them. Their camaraderie and dynamic are fun to read. If you listen to the audiobook (as I did), you can hear their distinct accents and the foreign languages woven into the text, making it an even more immersive experience.
Kuang also didn’t shy away from exploring the ethical dilemmas of language and translation. The novel examines how the languages of colonized people were exploited—used to generate wealth and power for the colonizers while keeping the colonized nations in poverty. There’s also an ongoing debate about whether translation should be free knowledge or controlled for the empire’s benefit. (Honestly, it feels like an essay I would probably submit for my sociology class.)
So now the main conflict is: How can this group of scholars work to free the knowledge of translation when they are trapped within the very system that maintains its monopoly? This is an interesting dilemma, it that parallels the real world and examines how systemic oppression works. And just as Kuang sees it, ideals alone aren’t enough to create change. A handful of scholars, no matter how passionate, can’t bring down an empire overnight.
And that’s where the controversy comes in. I think the majority of people hated the book because the scholars’ actions were juvenile, and their revolution didn’t have the impact it should have had. In modern society, the ending is realistic. But in fiction? Some readers believe, including me, that the revolution should have succeeded—because if we can’t win in reality, we should at least be able to win in fiction. We want the “good guys” to win. But I also understand that Kuang offered realistic take on revolutionary forces and their limitations in a fiction book.
Despite the ending, I really enjoyed this book. My mind was blown when I first started listening to it, and I still highly recommend it. It’s one of a kind, with top-notch writing and a fast-paced story, so you won’t easily get bored. That said, it lands in my 3-star pile, though.
Have you read this book? If you have, share your thoughts in the comments! If not, let me know if it’s on your list! ❤️
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