Likely Stories - Babel

Set in an alternate-reality 1830s Oxford, its protagonist, Robin Swift, is the ward of a renowned Englishman. Spirited away from East China poverty to posh London, Robin eventually studies at Oxford’s Royal Institute of Translation, called Babel. Robins’s dreams are plausible in a period Oxford that enchants—until it doesn’t.

Here, British imperialism swings on cultural hinges forged by Oxford dons. Philologists—translators—rank highly for their knowledge of “silver-making.” The novel’s conceit is that when silver is engraved with similar words from two languages, there’s a remainder of meaning, an untranslatable leftover; that’s where magic happens. Silver’s beauty and translators’ cleverness create the magic powering British greatness, whether ships, medical cures, household conveniences, or engines of war.

Sadly, xenophobia, racism, and classicism turn Robin’s dreams nightmarish. He also learns his linguistic skills are complicit in colonial exploitation. One memorable line notes, “An act of translation is … necessarily always an act of betrayal.” Robin ultimately makes a decision tying his story to the Bible’s original story of Babel.

However, the novel also gives an edifying view of translation based on humility and mutual understanding. One character celebrates “[l]istening to the other and trying to see past your own biases to glimpse what they’re trying to say. Showing yourself to the world, and hoping someone else understands.”

Kuang satisfies readers’ love of ivory towers and gleaming spires. Yet her Oxford raises questions. Do universities underwrite unjust economies, corrupt politics, uncritical nationalisms, destructive technologies? Can universities unite wisdom and virtue, knowledge and character? Kuang’s novel invites fascination and sympathy with Robin Swift—and self-reflection about universities’ priorities, discoveries, and resources.

If truth is stranger than fiction, then imaginative stories give us practice coming to terms with the truth. Babel gives us both—terrific fiction and important truths.

PREVIOUS EPISODES OF LIKELY STORIES

Likely Stories - You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy

In my goal to read more nonfiction books, I picked up You’re Not Listening – what you’re missing and why it matters by Kate Murphy. I admit I can’t remember who recommended this book, I probably wasn’t listening… but reading it is a great opportunity to learn how to become a better listener and who doesn’t want that.I’m Lucy Petter. Welcome to today’s Likely Stories.

Likely Stories - I Who Have Never Known Men by Jaqueline Harpman

My name is Heather White, I teach Art History classes at Baylor and manage my household, I have two toddlers and a ten year old. Today I am reviewing, “I Who Have Never Known Men,” by Jaqueline Harpman. If you’ve never heard of it, don’t worry, it’s an older, obscure book with a somewhat wordy title.

Likely Stories - Midnight Cowboy by James Kendrick

If you haven’t seen the movie Midnight Cowboy, don’t read Baylor professor James Kendrick’s new book Midnight Cowboy. It is full of spoilers…full.

Likely Stories - The Favorites by Layne Fargo

You know, investing my soul into a story about fictional competitive ice dancers was not what I had on my 2025 BINGO card, yet there I was, poring over the pages of this book and pouring out my emotions over this debut that is an homage to Wuthering Heights and reads like part fictional account and part Netflix Olympic documentary. Dig in your toepicks to 'The Favorites' by Layne Fargo and get ready for one heck of a spin.

Likely Stories - Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Hey there. Lauren here. I’m KWBU’s public relations intern as well as a Baylor student and a bookseller at Fabled. Today I’m going to be talking all about the book, Carrie Sotozis Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Let me tell you, I love me some Taylor Jenkins Reid. I would probably say she’s my favorite author. She writes such fascinating stories with the most interesting characters. One of these interesting characters being Carrie Soto.

Likely Stories - Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

Have you ever been in a daily commute, or in a class, and sat next to the same people day in and day out, and not known one thing about them? Not their names, not their jobs, and certainly not their lives. You give them nicknames in your head attributed to what they wear and what they drink, but you have no idea who they are. Of course, you never speak. The first rule is “don’t talk to strangers.” What would it take to get to know these people, and in turn to let them into your life?

Likely Stories - Bringing Ben Home: A Murder, A Conviction, and the Fight to Redeem American Justice by Barbara Bradley Hagerty

I’m Joe Riley with KWBU, and this is Likely Stories.Every couple of weeks, I visit the Waco McLennan County Library and browse the New Book shelves. That’s where I saw Bringing Ben Home: A Murder, A Conviction, and the Fight to Redeem American Justice. Actually, it was the author’s name that first caught my eye – Barbara Bradley Hagerty is currently a contributing writer at The Atlantic. Before that, she spent 19 years reporting on justice issues and religion for NPR. I checked the book out because I’ve always been impressed by her work.

Likely Stories - The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

It’s not Christmastime anymore, but that's never stopped me from enjoying any story set during the most wonderful time of the year. This one is heavy on mystery, lightly romantic, deeply nostalgic, fully entrenched in the setting.

Likely Stories - Everything We Never Had

Nearly every time my husband sees me reading he asks, “Reading one of your “happy” books again?” To be fair, he may have a point. For example, listening to the audiobook of a novel that unpacks the emotional trauma of four generations of Filipino men, is possibly not the most uplifting way to spend a drive through the plains of the Texas Panhandle. But Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay was so worth it. I’m Gia Chevis with this week’s installment of Likely Stories.

Likely Stories - Killer Story: The Truth Behind True Crime Television

For this week's episode of Likely stories, Kevin Tankersley, from the Department of Journalism, Public Relations & New Media at Baylor, is investigating what goes into the making of True Crime Television.

If you'd like to be a part of our Likely Stories Book Club, you can find all the relevant information and how to sign up to the mailing list, right here.