---
product_id: 394061328
title: "Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution"
price: "€ 29.87"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.ie/products/394061328-babel-or-the-necessity-of-violence-an-arcane-history-oxford
store_origin: IE
region: Ireland
---

# English language global reach 560 pages immersive read Hardcover premium binding Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution

**Price:** € 29.87
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 📖 Unlock the arcane secrets of rebellion and language — don’t just read a book, join a revolution!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
- **How much does it cost?** € 29.87 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ie](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/394061328-babel-or-the-necessity-of-violence-an-arcane-history-oxford)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Hardcover Elegance:** A durable, stylish edition perfect for your curated bookshelf and coffee table flex.
- • **Epic 560-Page Journey:** Dive deep into a richly woven alternate history that challenges the status quo.
- • **Top-Ranked Bestseller:** Join thousands of readers who propelled this to #2 in Alternate History Sci-Fi.
- • **Cultural Revolution Narrative:** Experience a fresh take on colonial resistance with a story that resonates in today’s social discourse.
- • **Complex Themes for the Thoughtful:** Explore freedom, guilt, and rebellion through the eyes of fiercely talented young protagonists.

## Overview

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence is a 560-page hardcover fiction by R.F. Kuang, blending alternate history and urban fantasy. It follows four gifted young translators challenging the British Empire, exploring themes of freedom, compromise, and social injustice. Highly rated (#2 in Alternate History Sci-Fi) and critically acclaimed, it’s a must-read for millennials craving intellectually charged, socially relevant narratives.

## Description

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution : Kuang, R. F.: desertcart.ae: Books

Review: Awesome - Not the best condition but great book nonetheless
Review: Pretty good read for teenagers /young adults - This is a nice story of 4 very unusually talented young adults, kids almost, coming of age and having to find their place in a very complicated world. There are certainly Harry Potterish vibes there, however those kids end up fighting not some villain who must not be named but the British Empire itself. All of the main characters are somewhat immature – and the author does a great job linking this to rather sad and complicated personal circumstances of each of the kids. However, do not expect to find anything even remotely similar to Donna Tartt’s books, even though some tiktokers think otherwise. I’m pretty sure the author never meant for this book to be compared to the “Secret History” – it’s just a clumsy marketing move made by someone who hardly reads. “Babel” is an interesting work of fiction, addresses some rather complex issues of freedom, and compromise, and guilt, and whether it is worth to carry on living in the world that will always be unfair and awfully cynical. Definitely worth reading and discussing with teenagers.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #12,467 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #2 in Urban Fantasy #2 in Alternate History Science Fiction #6 in Historical Fantasy |
| Customer reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (3,373) |
| Dimensions  | 15.24 x 4.19 x 22.86 cm |
| Edition  | 1st |
| ISBN-10  | 0063021420 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0063021426 |
| Item weight  | 717 g |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 560 pages |
| Publication date  | 23 August 2022 |
| Publisher  | Harper Voyager |

## Images

![Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1lv97-jJoL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Awesome
*by S***A on 11 May 2023*

Not the best condition but great book nonetheless

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pretty good read for teenagers /young adults
*by N***A on 20 January 2025*

This is a nice story of 4 very unusually talented young adults, kids almost, coming of age and having to find their place in a very complicated world. There are certainly Harry Potterish vibes there, however those kids end up fighting not some villain who must not be named but the British Empire itself. All of the main characters are somewhat immature – and the author does a great job linking this to rather sad and complicated personal circumstances of each of the kids. However, do not expect to find anything even remotely similar to Donna Tartt’s books, even though some tiktokers think otherwise. I’m pretty sure the author never meant for this book to be compared to the “Secret History” – it’s just a clumsy marketing move made by someone who hardly reads. “Babel” is an interesting work of fiction, addresses some rather complex issues of freedom, and compromise, and guilt, and whether it is worth to carry on living in the world that will always be unfair and awfully cynical. Definitely worth reading and discussing with teenagers.

### ⭐ Damaged book
*by A***S on 8 October 2023*

The packaging and product was damaged when it arrived

## Frequently Bought Together

- Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution―An Historic Fantasy of Dark Academia, Perfect for Fans of Historical Fiction and Nineteenth Century England
- Katabasis (Deluxe Limited Edition): A Novel
- The Complete Poppy War Trilogy Boxed Set: The Poppy War / The Dragon Republic / The Burning God

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ie/products/394061328-babel-or-the-necessity-of-violence-an-arcane-history-oxford](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/394061328-babel-or-the-necessity-of-violence-an-arcane-history-oxford)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Ireland*
*Store origin: IE*
*Last updated: 2026-03-05*