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One of the leading lights in the visceral grimdark fantasy genre, Kuang's stunningly wrought novel is a compulsive dystopia about the power of language and the evils of authoritarianism, represented by the looming titular tower of translation.
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A new dark academic fantasy by the New York Times bestselling author of The Poppy War.
Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.
Oxford, 1836. The city of dreaming spires. It is the centre of all knowledge and progress in the world. And at its centre is Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation. The tower from which all the power of the Empire flows.
Orphaned in Canton and brought to England by a mysterious guardian, Babel seemed like paradise to Robin Swift. Until it became a prison... but can a student stand against an empire?
An incendiary new novel from award-winning author R.F. Kuang about the power of language, the violence of colonialism, and the sacrifices of resistance.
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 2928377084219
Number of pages: 650
Weight: 270 g
Dimensions: 240 x 159 x 44 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
Praise for The Poppy War:
'An outstanding debut' - Daily Mail
'A book that will go down as one of the best grimdark/military fantasy debuts of all time' - Booknest
'A masterpiece by grimdark's newest and perhaps darkest daughter' - Fantasy Book Review
'A wholly unique experience' - The Washington Post
'Enthralling from start to finish... I thought myself prepared. I was now. R.F. Kuang's debut is a masterful must-read, and I've no doubt the best is yet to come' - Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld
'A blistering, powerful epic of war and revenge that will captivate you to the bitter end' - Kameron Hurley, author of The Light Brigade
'Fresh, assured, character-driven fantasy that's choc full of magic, war, and betrayal. I loved it from start to finish' - Peter Newman, author of The Vagrant
'A powerful, emotional journey, compellingly written' - Adrian Tchaikovsky, award-winning author of The Children of Time
'An original and engrossing tale of the coming of age of a talented young soldier amid the horrors of invasion and genocide' - Anna Stephens, author of Godblind
'I so enjoyed The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang... It is all about survival, and how a person's will and determination can change the course of their life. I loved the central character, felt her pain and her far-too-brief moments of joy, and just loved how Kuang breathes fresh life into the warrior training school... Highly recommended' - John Gwynne, author of Malice
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