Babel, by R.F. Kuang

Set in an alternative universe in 1800s Oxford, a young Cantonese orphan is taken back to England with a man who gives him an education. When he is old enough, he starts a course at Oxford university as a translator where he meets a small group of fellow students from various linguistic backgrounds. During his term however, he is draw into a mysterious underground society and made aware of the racism, inequality and imorality of his department and society.

The book is written in the style of non-fiction despite being a fantasy novel, and the informative and detailed footnotes add to the feeling of realism throughout. I really enjoyed this style of writing and it made the alternative magical universe seem grounded in fact and history that we know to be true.

This was not an easy book for me to read - it is very long, almost academic in style, and the concepts and topics covered in the plot and subtext are complex, intellectual and ambitious. I had to re-read many parts of this book multiple times to work out what was going on. However, I was still able to follow the general plot and it was still gripping and enjoyable.

Rating: 4.5 stars ( rounded up )

Accessability: 2.5 stars

Book aesthetic - all photos from Unsplash