Artwork by Ella Sun
Rebecca F. Kuang is a Chinese American writer who has recently wowed audiences with her novels. Kuang graduated with a Mcphil in Chinese studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford. While continuing her writing, she is currently pursuing a PHD at Yale in East Asian Studies and Literature. Her newest novel, Yellowface, is set to come out on May 16th. In anticipation of Yellowface, we are taking a look at her past works.
The Poppy War Trilogy
The Poppy War Trilogy combines magical realism with the history of the Opium Wars to draw you into the characters’ adventures while also critiquing colonialism and war. The first book begins with a young girl named Fang Runin, also known as Rin, studying to gain admission to an elite boarding school against all odds. However, Rin does not get to remain a student for long. War breaks out, and Rin is forced to make devastating choices and face horrible losses as she fights for what she thinks is right.
Many in Rin’s country are addicted to opium, referencing the mid-19th century Opium Wars between China and Britain, and later France. In the 16th century, the British wanted to import many Chinese goods, but China had no interest in British exports. The British no longer wanted to abide by China’s trading rules, so they smuggled opium into China to addict the Chinese, forcing them to continue purchasing opium from Great Britain. This led to two Opium Wars, between 1839-1842 and 1856-1860.
Kuang’s Poppy War Trilogy proposes great commentary on both the physical and psychological trauma caused by warfare, the power of connecting to culture, and the dangerous and misguided thinking of colonialist powers.
I would recommend these books to anyone who loves great characters, military strategy, and cool magic in their novels. This trilogy does a great job of creating an immersive world that also incorporates historical influence!
Babel: An Arcane History
Babel: An Arcane History, is set at Oxford University in London. Robin, an orphan from Canton, is admitted to Oxford University’s translation department along with three other students, all who are fluent in two or more languages. Babel, the translation department, upholds all of London. Its infrastructure is completely powered on translation instead of electricity.
Robin and the other main characters are forced to come to terms with the fact that they are helping to uphold a colonialist empire as they notice the cracks in the environment around them and come into contact with a rebel group. Babel is filled with rebellion, friendship, colonialist critique, and the daunting events that follow when someone chooses being complacent to an imperialist empire over the friends they love. Kuang continues her historical commentary from the Poppy War Trilogy, weaving in aspects of the Opium Wars.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves magical realism, political commentary, and books set in academia. I learned a lot from Babel about the power of language and empathy.
Looking forward to Yellowface
R.F Kuang’s new novel Yellowface, departs from her previous genre of magical realism. This novel will be set in the literary sphere, in which the main character June steals her recently deceased friend Athena’s manuscript to publish herself. I am excited to see what R.F Kuang’s new satirical approach brings to Yellowface – if it is anything like her other novels, I know it’ll be a wild ride!
You can purchase Yellowface and R. F. Kuang’s other works here.