Babylon neboli Nutnost násilí. Skryté dějiny revoluce oxfordských překladatelů – Kuang Rebecca F. (2024)

A novel of alternative history infused with magic from the author of the bestseller The Poppy War ***** Traduttore, traditore... A perfect translation does not exist; the act of translation is always an act of betrayal. ***** Year 1828. Orphan Robin Swift is taken by the mysterious Professor Lovell from Canton to London. There, Robin studies classical languages and Chinese, preparing for the day he will enter the prestigious Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford University. This institute, also known as Babylon, is the world's leading center for translation and also for magic. Silverworking, the art of materializing meaning lost in translation through magical silver ingots, has given the British unprecedented power. ***** For Robin, Oxford is a utopia alive with knowledge. But over time, he begins to waver between Babylon and the secret society Hermès, which seeks to halt imperial expansion. When Britain plunges into an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide... Can influential institutions be changed from within, or does revolution truly require violence?