Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence by R. F. Kuang is a sweeping speculative-fiction and alternate-history novel set in a magical version of 1830s Oxford, England. The story follows Robin Swift, a young boy from Canton who is brought to England and trained in languages so he can attend the prestigious Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford — known as Babel. In this world, translation itself is a form of magic: silver bars inscribed with words in different languages generate power that fuels British industry and colonial dominance. As Robin studies and becomes increasingly aware of how this linguistic magic is used to uphold empire, he and his friends grapple with their roles within a system built on imperialism, racism, and exploitation. The novel blends richly imagined academic life with political critique, examining how language, knowledge, and power are intertwined and asking whether resistance — even violent resistance — is necessary to challenge entrenched injustices.