Babel
Or the Necessity of Violence: an Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
Will be published approx. on 10. September 2026
Book
Hardback
576 pages
978-0-00-877673-2 (ISBN)
Description
The instant Sunday Times bestseller from legendary author R. F. Kuang is now available in a stunning Deluxe Collector's Edition - the definitive way to own this modern dark academia classic.
Babel took the world by storm, captivating readers with its richly imagined alternate history of Oxford, its exploration of language and colonialism, and its unforgettable cast of characters. Now, this beloved novel has been reimagined in a luxurious collector's edition worthy of its place as one of the most celebrated fantasy novels of recent years.
This exquisite edition features a foil-stamped faux leather package, patterned endpapers, stenciled edges, a ribbon marker, and luxe paper - every detail carefully crafted for the discerning collector. Seven stunning spreads of original black-and-white illustrations by acclaimed artist Nico Delort bring the world of Babel to life like never before, alongside updated spot art for the Part pages throughout.
Whether you're a longtime fan looking to upgrade your shelf or discovering Babel for the first time, this collector's edition is the ultimate way to experience R. F. Kuang's masterpiece.
A treasure for every bookshelf. A must-have for every Kuang fan.
Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.
Oxford, 1836.
The city of dreaming spires.
It is the centre of all knowledge and progress in the world.
And at its centre is Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation. The tower from which all the power of the Empire flows.
Orphaned in Canton and brought to England by a mysterious guardian, Babel seemed like paradise to Robin Swift.
Until it became a prison...
But can a student stand against an empire?
An incendiary novel from award-winning author R.F. Kuang about the power of language, the violence of colonialism, and the sacrifices of resistance.
'A masterpiece that resonates with power and knowledge. BABEL is a stark picture of the cruelty of empire, a distillation of dark academia, and a riveting blend of fantasy and historical fiction - a monumental achievement'
Samantha Shannon, author of THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE
R.F. Kuang's book 'Babel' was a New York Times bestseller w/c 11-09-2022.
Babel took the world by storm, captivating readers with its richly imagined alternate history of Oxford, its exploration of language and colonialism, and its unforgettable cast of characters. Now, this beloved novel has been reimagined in a luxurious collector's edition worthy of its place as one of the most celebrated fantasy novels of recent years.
This exquisite edition features a foil-stamped faux leather package, patterned endpapers, stenciled edges, a ribbon marker, and luxe paper - every detail carefully crafted for the discerning collector. Seven stunning spreads of original black-and-white illustrations by acclaimed artist Nico Delort bring the world of Babel to life like never before, alongside updated spot art for the Part pages throughout.
Whether you're a longtime fan looking to upgrade your shelf or discovering Babel for the first time, this collector's edition is the ultimate way to experience R. F. Kuang's masterpiece.
A treasure for every bookshelf. A must-have for every Kuang fan.
Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.
Oxford, 1836.
The city of dreaming spires.
It is the centre of all knowledge and progress in the world.
And at its centre is Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation. The tower from which all the power of the Empire flows.
Orphaned in Canton and brought to England by a mysterious guardian, Babel seemed like paradise to Robin Swift.
Until it became a prison...
But can a student stand against an empire?
An incendiary novel from award-winning author R.F. Kuang about the power of language, the violence of colonialism, and the sacrifices of resistance.
'A masterpiece that resonates with power and knowledge. BABEL is a stark picture of the cruelty of empire, a distillation of dark academia, and a riveting blend of fantasy and historical fiction - a monumental achievement'
Samantha Shannon, author of THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE
R.F. Kuang's book 'Babel' was a New York Times bestseller w/c 11-09-2022.
Reviews / Votes
BLACKWELL'S BOOK OF THE YEAR A WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALIST DAILY MAIL BEST BOOK OF 2022 '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 EMPIRE OF GOLD 'A masterpiece that resonates with power and knowledge. BABEL is a stark picture of the cruelty of empire, a distillation of dark academia, and a riveting blend of fantasy and historical fiction - a monumental achievement' Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE 'A masterpiece. Through a meticulously researched and a wholly impressive deep dive into linguistics and the politics of language and translation, Kuang weaves a story that is part love-hate letter to academia, part scathing indictment of the colonial enterprise, and all fiery revolution' Rebecca Roanhorse, NYT bestselling author of BLACK SUN 'Kuang has outdone herself. BABEL is brilliant, vicious, sensitive, epic, and intimate; it's both a love letter and a declaration of war. It's a perfect book' Alix E. Harrow, bestselling author of A THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY 'A book that confirms Kuang as a major talent' SFX 'Brainy, brilliant, and fuelled by righteous anger, Babel is a towering tour-de-force of fantasy' DAILY MAIL 'BABEL has earned tremendous praise and deserves all of it. It's Philip Pullman's THE GOLDEN COMPASS by way of N.K. Jemisin's THE FIFTH SEASON: inventive and engaging, passionate and precise' NEW YORK TIMESMore details
Edition
Collector's edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Edition type
Special edition
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
270 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-877673-2 (9780008776732)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
R.F. Kuang
Babel
Or the Necessity of Violence: an Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
Book
09/2023
HarperVoyager
€13.50
Available immediately
R.F. Kuang
Babel
Or the Necessity of Violence: an Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
Book
09/2022
HarperVoyager
€25.00
Available immediately
Person
Rebecca F. Kuang is a Marshall Scholar, Chinese-English translator, and the Astounding Award-winning and the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Award nominated author of the Poppy War trilogy and the forthcoming Babel. Her work has won the Crawford Award and the Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel. She has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford; she is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale.