Empress The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan

The fascinating biography of the most powerful Mughal woman in historyWhen it came to hunting she was a master shot. As a dress designer few could match. An ingenious architect she innovated the use of marble in her parents' mausoleum on the banks of the Yamuna which inspired her stepson's Taj Mahal. And she was both celebrated and reviled for her political acumen and diplomatic skill which rivaled those of her female counterparts in Europe and beyond.In 1611 thirty-four-year-old Nur Jahan daughter of a Persian noble and widow of a subversive official became the twentieth and most cherished wife of Emperor Jahangir. While other wives were secluded behind walls Nur ruled the vast Mughal Empire alongside her husband and governed in his stead when his health failed and his attention wandered from matters of state. An astute politician and a devoted partner Nur led troops into battle to free Jahangir when he was imprisoned by one of his officers. She signed and issued imperial orders and coins of the realm bore her name.Acclaimed historian Ruby Lal uncovers the rich life and world of Nur Jahan rescuing this dazzling figure from patriarchal and orientalist cliches of romance and intrigue while giving a new insight into the lives of the women and the girls during the Mughal Empire even where scholars claim there are no sources. Nur's confident assertion of authority and talent is revelatory. In Empress she finally receives her due in a deeply researched and evocative biography that awakens us to a fascinating history. About the Author Ruby Lal is an acclaimed historian of Mughal India. Her previous books areDomesticity and Power in the Early Mughal World (Cambridge University Press New York 2005) which won much acclaim including numerous reviews in major international magazines such asThe New York Review of BooksThe Economic and Political WeeklyRevue Historique andThe Times Literary Supplement. Her second bookComing of Age in Nineteenth Century India The Girl-Child and the Art of Playfulness (Cambridge University Press New York 2013) was reviewed extensively in academic journals and magazines with wider intellectual concerns. Her short stories have appeared in Indian Literature and in The Little Magazine. She teaches at Emory University and divides her time between Atlanta and Delhi.