[How it Works](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/how-it-works/) [Bookshop](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/books/bindery/)

[Publishing](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/publishing/) [Team](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/team/) [Contact](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/contact/)

Log in or Sign up

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution

R. F Kuang

Save to Your Books

[Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/10458/9780063021426)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063021420?tag=thisstoryai04-20)

100% of affiliate revenue supports Boundless Press

Instant #1 _New York Times_ Bestseller from the author of _The Poppy War_

“Absolutely phenomenal. One of the most brilliant, razor-sharp books I've had the pleasure of reading that isn't just an alternative fantastical history, but an interrogative one; one that grabs colonial history and the Industrial Revolution, turns it over, and shakes it out.” — Shannon Chakraborty, bestselling author of _The City of Brass_

From award-winning author R. F. Kuang comes _Babel_, a thematic response to _The Secret History_ and a tonal retort to _Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell_ that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British empire.

Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.

1. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel.

_Babel_ is the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as its knowledge serves the Empire’s quest for colonization.

**For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge.** But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion.

**When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide…** Can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence?

Show more

Get the Bindery app

* * *

Posts about this title from Boundless Press

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Sep 11 2024](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

[🍂☕️ 40+ fall book recommendations 🎃👻 autumn books, vampires, haunted house, dark academia, witchy](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/6W8xpYLfuzrKdvJl39iE/)

Let me know your favourite fall books! 🍂

* * *

37 books

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Dec 31 2022](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

[every book i read in 2022 rated & reviewed in 1 sentence](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/WBhUl5IlPHXRfIZkr8VB/)

join as a channel member to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJn0v3OAEAX3-V4crjcHtRA/join

socials
🤍 instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisstoryaintover/
🤍 twitter: https://twitter.com/jananiekvelu
🤍 tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisstoryaintover?lang=en
🤍 goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thisstoryaintover

💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com
💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com

faqs
🤍 how do you pronounce your name?
\- my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)

🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc?
\- both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!

🤍 what is your job?
\- aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!

* * *

63 books

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Oct 26 2022](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

[💖 my 25 favourite standalone books of all time 💖 fantasy books, sci-fi, literary fiction, memoirs](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/d62X7kjMcfntTGj4hrqj/)

Aardvark Book Club official website: https://aardvarkbookclub.com/
Download the iOS app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aardvark-book-club/id6443419435
Download the Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aardvark.app

I've got everything from fantasy books, to sci-fi, to literary fiction, to memoirs so I hope you enjoy!

🤍 timestamps
↳ 0:00 Opening Thoughts
↳ 2:08 I’m Glad My Mom Died
↳ 3:22 In Order to Live
↳ 4:10 Know My Name
↳ 5:22 You Can’t Be Serious
↳ 6:35 Aardvark Book Club
↳ 9:10 Days of Distraction
↳ 10:10 An American Marriage
↳ 11:13 Marriage of a Thousand Lies
↳ 12:14 Pride and Prejudice
↳ 12:52 Jane Eyre
↳ 13:42 An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
↳ 14:59 Perks of Being a Wallflower
↳ 15:58 Turtles All the Way Down
↳ 16:52 Yolk
↳ 17:53 The Beautiful Ones
↳ 18:50 A Song of Achilles
↳ 19:51 The Vanishing Half
↳ 20:34 Blue Skinned Gods
↳ 21:55 The Stationery Shop
↳ 22:54 Disorientation
↳ 24:27 A Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires
↳ 25:45 Mexican Gothic
↳ 27:08 All My Rage
↳ 28:26 Pachinko
↳ 29:32 Babel
↳ 31:38 Kaikeyi
↳ 33:25 Final Thoughts

📚 join my book club 📚
read books by BIPOC each month and join me during monthly liveshows to discuss!
🤍 announcement Video: https://youtu.be/u-aI8tD1RcQ
🤍 discuss on Fable: https://l.fable.co/readincolour
🤍 discuss on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readincolourbookclub/
🤍 discuss on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReadinColorClub

other places to find me
🤍 my website: https://www.jananiekvelu.com/
🤍 my series # EpicBookRecs on the Epic Reads Channel: https://bit.ly/2XziOfz

discount codes
🤍 get one month FREE on Skillshare using my link: https://skl.sh/MKR96
🤍 use my code STORY to get your first Book of the Month box for only $9.99
https://www.bookofthemonth.com/?utm\_source=youtube&utm\_medium=video&utm\_campaign=This\_Story\_Ain%27t\_Over

💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com
💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com

faqs
🤍 how do you pronounce your name?
\- my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)

🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc?
\- both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!

🤍 what is your job?
\- aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!

* * *

28 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

[Diva Down Books\\
\\
Joe\\
\\
• May 16](https://joezawadareads.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[My Rating Scheme and Examples!](https://joezawadareads.binderybooks.com/item/P3nGJWCUbV0uxfpsnQX7/)

How many of these books have you read?

* * *

5 books

3

[Nathan’s Booktok!\\
\\
Nathan\\
\\
• Dec 12 2025](https://nathansbooktok.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Upgrade for $5 or login](https://nathansbooktok.binderybooks.com/item/26dy0El9Fb7hhxGYnK1n/)

[Ten before the end yes, no, maybe!](https://nathansbooktok.binderybooks.com/item/26dy0El9Fb7hhxGYnK1n/)

Here’s the 10 books I read before the end of the year and whether or not I would recommend them to you!

Books mentioned:

Malice by John Gwynne
City of Brass by SA Chakraborty
Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristof
Before they are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
Cellos Gate by Maurice Africh
Babel by RF Kuang
Jade City by Fonda Lee
Strength of the Few by James Islington
Ironbound by Andrew Givler

#booktok #booktube #fantasybooks

* * *

10 books

[somenoveltea's bindery\\
\\
Maddie\\
\\
• Sep 4 2025](https://somenoveltea.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Dark Academia Recs!](https://somenoveltea.binderybooks.com/item/nx6NU9hWQKTz27JQw7Ym/)

i seldom do recs but dark academia is my FAVORITE sub-genre of all time. also drop any recs u have bc i'll literally read all of them #booktok #bookrecs #darkacademia #bookrecommendations #darkacademiabooks

* * *

16 books

[R&R Reads\\
\\
Ebony\\
\\
• May 18 2025](https://randrreads.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Join for free or login](https://randrreads.binderybooks.com/item/PzbSaHMBaMPwmcXN8c7P/)

[✨🍃do our tastes in books align?](https://randrreads.binderybooks.com/item/PzbSaHMBaMPwmcXN8c7P/)

✨🍃do our tastes in books align?

y’all are so quick with trends I gotta keep up😭

#romancebooks #fantasybooks #bookstagram

* * *

24 books

1

[Kirstyn's Bookshelf\\
\\
Kirstyn\\
\\
• Mar 31 2025](https://kirstynsbookshelf.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[winter book recommendations that slap ❄️](https://kirstynsbookshelf.binderybooks.com/item/o3mLoP8FeqPv0xxnEEEN/)

Hiiii! Glad you're back for another video. We have some amazing winter book recommendations you need to read like yesterday. Plus, I chat through my winter tbr. It's a decent amount of books, but honestly, I can never make a tbr without going overboard. Enjoy!

What books do you want to read this winter?

Thank you for being here:)

CONTACT ME: hello@lareesocial.com

MY AMAZON STOREFRONT: https://amzn.to/40DKoWe

JOIN MY COMMUNITY
INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/3zodqNo
GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/40DKgWK

Music: Let's Celebrate
Musician: Music\_Unlimited
Site: https://pixabay.com/music/letx27s-celebrate-lo-fi-hip-hop-music-121573/

* * *

10 books

1

[Fantasy & Frens\\
\\
Zoranne\\
\\
• Mar 25 2025](https://fantasyandfrens.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[standalone fantasy book recommendations i think are worth reading!](https://fantasyandfrens.binderybooks.com/item/k1Bx28QA2YCFj4pu4Gvr/)

standalone fantasy book recommendations i think are worth reading! if you have read any of these books, let me know your thoughts! books mentioned: - the sword of kaigen by m. l. wang - tress of the emerald sea by brandon sanderson - crueler mercies by maren chase - and the sky bled by s. hati - the spear cuts through water by simon jimenez - piranesi by susanna clarke - swordheart by t. kingfisher - babel by r. f. kuang - this is how you lose the time war by amal el-mohtar and max gladstone #fantasybooktok #standalonefantasybooks #zorannereads

* * *

9 books

3

[1](https://fantasyandfrens.binderybooks.com/item/k1Bx28QA2YCFj4pu4Gvr/#comments)

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Sep 11 2024](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

Let me know your favourite fall books! 🍂

* * *

37 books

[Elsewhen\\
\\
Emma Gardner\\
\\
• Aug 29 2024](https://elsewhen.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Poll:\\
\\
Help choose September's book!\\
\\
September is fast approaching! The following books have been nominated for the Elsewhen book club. **Cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of this post!**\\
\\
The choices for September are:\\
\\
**1\. \_Babel**\_\*\* by RF Kuang \*\*\\
\\
​\\
\\
\\
\\
​\\
\\
**2\. \_Silver Under Nightfall**\_\*\* by Rin Chupeco\*\*\\
\\
\\
\\
​\\
\\
**3\. \_Qoheleth**\_\*\* by Madison Scott-Clary\*\*\\
\\
\\
\\
​\\
\\
**4.** _\\*\\* Wake Up, Sir! \*\*_ **by Jonathan Ames**\\
\\
\\
\\
​\\
\\
​](https://elsewhen.binderybooks.com/item/6HubTxW6PnV6TmYp2TQc/)

[Vote for September's Book Club Pick](https://elsewhen.binderybooks.com/item/6HubTxW6PnV6TmYp2TQc/)

Click this post to vote for September's book!

* * *

4 books

4

[4](https://elsewhen.binderybooks.com/item/6HubTxW6PnV6TmYp2TQc/#comments)

[Written Reveries\\
\\
Krystal\\
\\
• Apr 16 2024](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[13 Stand Alone Book Recommendations](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/item/gV80oYrzWTYoCaQ2Mm0i/)

Some of my favorite stand alone books to recommend !

* * *

13 books

[Written Reveries\\
\\
Krystal\\
\\
• Apr 16 2024](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Upgrade for $5 or login](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/item/q712YOhj7C3lQTuxReKj/)

[Five Auto-buy Authors](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/item/q712YOhj7C3lQTuxReKj/)

I love all of these authors, and will buy anything they write.

* * *

11 books

2

[Violetear Books\\
\\
Kevin\\
\\
• May 26 2023](https://violetear.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[#ad These are some of my all-time favorite must-read audiobooks! Which audiobooks would YOU recommend? #books #audiobooks #reading #booktok #mustreadbooks #booksonspotify #spotifypartner @Spotify](https://violetear.binderybooks.com/item/De47U9af8EsrCBRKc4zR/)

#ad These are some of my all-time favorite must-read audiobooks! Which audiobooks would YOU recommend? #books #audiobooks #reading #booktok #mustreadbooks #booksonspotify #spotifypartner @Spotify

* * *

5 books

[Ezeekat Press\\
\\
Jaysen\\
\\
• Apr 1 2023](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[I’m going to spend the rest of the day apologizing to my books 😭 #booktok #aprilfools #books #legendborn #babel #lotr #bookworm](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/3qoqVPayLEPok3upeomC/)

I’m going to spend the rest of the day apologizing to my books 😭 #booktok #aprilfools #books #legendborn #babel #lotr #bookworm

* * *

3 books

[Ezeekat Press\\
\\
Jaysen\\
\\
• Mar 21 2023](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Who are you trying to save with a reread? #booktoks #books #bookworm #reading #readers](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/Zrz4vnkJonAYoh5MYhf3/)

Who are you trying to save with a reread? #booktoks #books #bookworm #reading #readers

* * *

5 books

[Ezeekat Press\\
\\
Jaysen\\
\\
• Mar 8 2023](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[#ad #stitch with @spotify what are your favorite women-authored audiobooks?? #booktok #booksonspotify #SpotifyPartner #books #audiobooks #legendborn #tomorrowandtomorrowandtomorrow #babel #audiobooktok #greenscreensticker](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/SSxKtNeiv0u3q2YvQTga/)

#ad #stitch with @spotify what are your favorite women-authored audiobooks?? #booktok #booksonspotify #SpotifyPartner #books #audiobooks #legendborn #tomorrowandtomorrowandtomorrow #babel #audiobooktok #greenscreensticker

* * *

3 books

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Dec 31 2022](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

[every book i read in 2022 rated & reviewed in 1 sentence](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/WBhUl5IlPHXRfIZkr8VB/)

join as a channel member to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJn0v3OAEAX3-V4crjcHtRA/join

💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com
💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com

faqs
🤍 how do you pronounce your name?
\- my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)

🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc?
\- both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!

🤍 what is your job?
\- aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!

* * *

63 books

[Ezeekat Press\\
\\
Jaysen\\
\\
• Dec 31 2022](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[What were your favorite new releases of 2022?? #booktok #books #favoritebooks #2022roundup #bookworm #top5 #babel #bloodmarked #thehoneys #athousandstepsintonight #thespearcutsthroughwater](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/tlU5m1wk2zy2H2aXsdC4/)

What were your favorite new releases of 2022?? #booktok #books #favoritebooks #2022roundup #bookworm #top5 #babel #bloodmarked #thehoneys #athousandstepsintonight #thespearcutsthroughwater

* * *

5 books

[Ezeekat Press\\
\\
Jaysen\\
\\
• Nov 24 2022](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Someone remind me to delete this in the morning. 🥴 #booktok](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/sd2eFPglg5NurHgz3QfY/)

Someone remind me to delete this in the morning. 🥴 #booktok

* * *

3 books

[WPD Books\\
\\
William\\
\\
• Oct 28 2022](https://wpd.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[The best books published in 2022 (in no particular order) #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #yiyunli @kuangrf #cormacmccarthy](https://wpd.binderybooks.com/item/TJut4XH7oAWqVekRuz3D/)

The best books published in 2022 (in no particular order) #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #yiyunli @kuangrf #cormacmccarthy

* * *

3 books

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Oct 26 2022](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

I've got everything from fantasy books, to sci-fi, to literary fiction, to memoirs so I hope you enjoy!

other places to find me
🤍 my website: https://www.jananiekvelu.com/
🤍 my series # EpicBookRecs on the Epic Reads Channel: https://bit.ly/2XziOfz

💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com
💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com

faqs
🤍 how do you pronounce your name?
\- my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)

🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc?
\- both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!

🤍 what is your job?
\- aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!

* * *

28 books

[WPD Books\\
\\
William\\
\\
• Oct 21 2022](https://wpd.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Best Books Published This Year (in 2022)](https://wpd.binderybooks.com/item/3xa5qFx17Hkug6wB6Pan/)

The best books published in 2022, at least as far as I’m aware, are The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li and Babel by R.F. Kuang. Be on the lookout for the two new Cormac McCarthy novels as well!

Want to support this channel? Consider buying a book from the Bookshop link below. Your purchase will support local bookstores and yours truly.

Shop for books I recommend: https://bookshop.org/shop/williampdozier

* * *

4 books

[WPD Books\\
\\
William\\
\\
• Oct 20 2022](https://wpd.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[This book is not overrated. It is, in fact, very good. @kuangrf is the real deal. I’m partway through and am thoroughly enjoying. If you’re not sure you’ll like this book after Googling a blurb, get it for a friend or family member for the holidays.\\
#bookrecommendations #babel](https://wpd.binderybooks.com/item/ZtS0l6X9KEd66hgvjTL8/)

This book is not overrated. It is, in fact, very good. @kuangrf is the real deal. I’m partway through and am thoroughly enjoying. If you’re not sure you’ll like this book after Googling a blurb, get it for a friend or family member for the holidays.
#bookrecommendations #babel

* * *

1 book

[WPD Books\\
\\
William\\
\\
• Oct 18 2022](https://wpd.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[Best Book Published in 2022 (so far) #bookrecommendations #booktok #yiyunli #thebookofgoose #bestbooks2022 #rfkuang I have high hopes for Cormac McCarthy’s new novels as well, but he has some excellent competition from Yiyun Li.](https://wpd.binderybooks.com/item/HzmgEpFZRn3R4oXfG4xN/)

Best Book Published in 2022 (so far) #bookrecommendations #booktok #yiyunli #thebookofgoose #bestbooks2022 #rfkuang I have high hopes for Cormac McCarthy’s new novels as well, but he has some excellent competition from Yiyun Li.

* * *

2 books

[Ezeekat Press\\
\\
Jaysen\\
\\
• Sep 22 2022](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[I will be thinking about this book for the rest of my life. #booktok #babel #books #bookrecommendations #bookreview #reading #rfkuang](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/ZKHtlOa5F3PnKdwxF3GO/)

I will be thinking about this book for the rest of my life. #booktok #babel #books #bookrecommendations #bookreview #reading #rfkuang

* * *

1 book