About this book
Babel by Louis Couperus arrives like a fevered dream — a phantasmagoria that dares to scale the mythic heights of the tower of Babel and storm the realm of the gods. Couperus blends historical fiction with fairy-tale wonder, delivering lush, symbolist prose that unfolds as a series of uncanny tableaux and allegorical encounters.
Set against a fin-de-siècle sensibility, Babel evokes classical myth, biblical echo, and turn-of-the-century Dutch imagination to probe ambition, language, and the fragile boundary between human aspiration and divine mystery. Episodes shimmer with surreal imagery and moral ambiguity while never relinquishing the author’s precise, lyrical voice; the narrative reads like a collection of linked fables and dream-visions rather than a conventional plot-driven novel. Themes of hubris, transcendence, and the creative impulse are explored through richly drawn scenes and haunting metaphors, preserving the work’s sense of wonder without revealing its surprises.
Ideal for listeners who love literary historical fiction, mythic fairy tales, or atmospheric classic fiction, Babel rewards attentive ears with evocative storytelling and timeless questions about art, power, and the limits of human reach. A captivating listen for anyone drawn to imaginative, poetic narratives.
