Built in 1631 by the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan after the death of his wife, Mumtaz, the Taj Mahal is one of the world's few instantly recognizable architectural landmarks, "an expression not only of supreme love but also of confident power and opulent majesty." To tell its story, the Prestons (A Pirate of Exquisite Mind), British historians, trace several generations in the violent family history of India's Moghul rulers and the elaborate mausoleums they built. Though Shah Jahan—who ascended to the throne after killing his brother—undoubtedly loved Mumtaz dearly, their lives turn out to have been slightly less romantic than the legend. Mumtaz died while delivering the 14th child of their 19-year marriage, after which her husband honored her wish that he never take another wife but relied on the constant companionship of concubines. It's the family saga and the exotic palace life that hold the Prestons' attention, but they supply just enough architectural details to satisfy those who might be more interested in how the building supports its massive central dome. Though many questions about the Taj remain unanswered, this small history breaks through the legendary facade to reveal a powerful backstory. 8 color and 55 b&w illus. (Apr.)

The Taj Mahal (1631), one of the Seven Wonders of the World, has been beautifully exalted in the hands of the Prestons (coauthors, A Pirate of Exquisite Mind), Oxford-trained historians living in London. They skillfully unveil the history of the 16th-19th-century Mogul Empire, especially its architecture, campaigns, and court life. Drawing on Mogul and Indian original sources, individual accounts of Europeans travelers to the Indian Subcontinent, and various scholarly sources, the authors set the Taj Mahal in context and acknowledge the existence of unresolved questions, such as who the architect was. The map of India, genealogy, and pictures of Mogul architecture and gardens will help novice historians to understand better this era in India. The Prestons' occasional use of contemporary and later poetry enriches the work. If one is looking for an administrative study of the Mogul dynasty, this book doesn't offer much; it is, however, a reliable source for readers wanting to understand the splendor of the Taj Mahal in historical context. Recommended for academic and public libraries with collections in Indian history.
—Uma Doraiswamy

The legendary shrine to love and power viewed as a defining statement of two centuries of Moghul rule in India. The Prestons (co-authors, A Pirate of Exquisite Mind, 2004) brook no casual approach to appreciation of the architectural masterpiece in Agra, India, long known as one of the world's wonders. Readers should be prepared to trek back to the roots of the Mongol/Turkic people, direct descendants of conquerors Genghis Khan and Tamburlaine, who flooded through the Khyber Pass into Hindustan (northern India) early in the 16th century, led by Babur, the first Moghul emperor. A century of conquests, internecine rivalries and political intrigues, plus the melding of the Moghuls' Islamic customs with the Hindu ways of their Indian subjects, is given considerable detail before the emergence of Shah Jahan (1592-1666), the grandson of the emperor Akbar, who was Babur's grandson. The familiar tale of the tragic death in childbirth of Jahan's beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal ensues, along with the enduring passion of his grief and the erection of an extraordinary monument and tomb in her honor. The authors give a mere nod to modern factions at odds with consensus history (claims include that the Taj Mahal actually incorporates a pre-existing Hindu temple). They acknowledge that the actual architect has never been named, nor are there indisputable records of the total cost of erecting the Taj as a new structure (both cited as arguments for pro-Hindu claims of origin). However, their statement that the Taj not only incorporated both Muslim and Hindu elements but synthesized them into "a building that is much greater than the sum of its influences" seems well buttressed by generations of breathlessobservers glimpsing its marble and sandstone exterior in the changing light of late afternoon. Perhaps more than some architecture buffs may bargain for, but enriching in its historical sweep and context.

Filled with quotes, anecdotes and evocative prose, this true tale has, at times, the texture of a historical novel.” —Seattle Times

“This history breaks through the legendary facade to reveal a powerful backstory.” —Publishers Weekly

“In describing the Moghul Empire, the Prestons tell tales of Sunni and Shiite tensions; battles that are won by bribery as much as by force; and religious and clan wars that sweep from Kandahar to Kabul to Kashmir.” —San Diego Union-Tribune