Babel

This year, I've been reading a lot and I've been pretty fast at it. Every book I've read has left a mark on me, making me want to read even more. Sometimes, after reading a truly remarkable book, you feel the need to take a break, to let the book sink in thoroughly. Despite "Babel" being a novel in this segment, I tried to fill the void it created within me by diving straight into a new book as soon as I finished it. "Babel" is in a genre I've been enjoying lately called dark academia. et me tell you a bit about its plot and let's explore the doors of Babel together…

The world is a different place in the book, with England still trying to exert its overwhelming power over other nations through colonialism. But the only difference between the historical period and the time in the book is the existence of "magical" silver wands. Although the silver used to make these wands can be imported from different countries, using their magical power requires exceptional language skills. And it's not just any language; you must master three distinct languages, with Greek and Latin being essential, and you need to be fluent enough to think and act in these languages and possess a profound understanding of the origin of each word. For example, the word "idiotes" means both "fool" and "to forget" in another language, and this difference in meaning becomes a feature of the wand. So, if you've mastered both of these languages as I mentioned, when you read the words written on the wand one after another, its power activates, creating a wand that can, for example, make people forget things. Finally, I should mention that these wands are England's secret weapon. They're responsible for everything from keeping trains running, electricity flowing, historical buildings intact, to border security. So, if England couldn't make these wands, it could be in big trouble. It's a bit fantastical, I know. Now, let's take a closer look at the characters.

Our book's main character lives in the Canton region of China, where a deadly disease is spreading, especially among the poor and helpless. He and his mother fall victim to this illness, awaiting death. A stranger approaches him, promising to cure him and raise him as his own child if he agrees to accompany him. However, in exchange, he must excel academically in an English-speaking school, which means mastering English. Understanding that survival in disease-ridden Canton is nearly impossible, our young hero accepts the offer. The mysterious man turns out to be Professor Lovell, a distinguished scholar from Oxford University's Translation Academy. The Professor asks our hero to choose a Latin-derived name for himself, and thus, Robin Swift is born. Under the Professor's guidance, Robin undergoes extensive language training from various tutors, practicing speaking and writing for hours on end. Eventually, he becomes fluent not only in his native Mandarin but also in Greek and Latin. As he reaches university age, it's no surprise that Robin finds himself at the doorstep of Oxford University's Translation Academy.

In the nine-floor building called Babel, each floor features different translation activities and training sessions. As students progress through the floors, they gradually acquire the skills to create silver wands. At the top floor of Babel, magical wands, renowned for the silver imported from other countries, are manufactured. Here, Robin meets classmates from diverse backgrounds: Ramy, Lettie, and Victoria. Together, these four translation students navigate academic progress and strive to make their way in life during a time when English racism is common.

This book feels like you're reading a hidden history book beneath the surface of a classic dark academia story. When you finish it, you'll feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders, and it will stay with you for a long time. Besides the magical silver wands mentioned in the story, which are fantastical, I think they represent something valuable from that time. Looking at it that way, I can't find any flaws in the book's flow. In other words, just because there are magical wands in the story, don't think it's a fantasy novel. As you read further, you'll see serious topics like racism, colonialism, language history, and politics woven into the plot. Some people find these topics boring or depressing, but personally, I didn't feel that way. However, I understand that these discussions might feel dull if you're not fully engaged in the story. Nevertheless, once you overcome all these struggles, you'll encounter a conclusion that will leave you speechless, something you could never have predicted. I think you'll feel confident recommending this book to friends who haven't read or heard of it, and it truly left its mark on my 2024. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

You have such a great fear of freedom, brother. It's shackling you. You've identified so hard with the colonizer, you think any threat to them is a threat to you. When are you going to realize you can't be one of them?

A lie was not a lie if it was never uttered; questions that were never asked did not need answers. They would both remain perfectly content to linger in the liminal, endless space between truth and denial.