Characters in Babel

Robin Swift

An orphan trained in languages to attend Oxford's magical Institute of Translation, torn between prestige and complicity.

Professor Lovell

The Babel professor who brings Robin to England; cold, exacting, and a committed defender of British colonial power.

Ramy

A Muslim student from Calcutta and Robin's closest friend, charming but acutely aware of the empire's violence against his people.

Victoire Desgraves

A Haitian-born scholar navigating the racism and sexism she faces as a Black woman at Oxford.

Letty Price

An admiral's daughter in Robin's cohort whose privilege exposes the limits of cross-cultural solidarity.

Griffin Harley

An older student who draws Robin into the clandestine, anti-colonial Hermes Society.

Professor Richard Lovell

Ramiz "Ramy" Rafi Mirza

Letitia "Letty" Price

Anthony Ribben

Griffin Lovell