Tiger Slayer: The Extraordinary Story of Nur Jahan, Empress of India

by Ruby Lal, Molly Crabapple (Illustrator)

Overview

The dramatic and immersive story of an ambitious young empress who was the only woman to ever rule the Mughal Empire.

More than four centuries ago in India, a Muslim woman ruled a magnificent empire: Nur Jahan, whose name means “light of the world.” Nur led troops into battle atop an elephant, hunted tigers, designed public buildings, and issued coinage and royal decrees in her own name. In a world dominated by men, her astute handling of court politics and affairs of state propelled her to the position of co-sovereign of the vast Mughal empire—and made her mighty enemies who would plot to bring about her downfall.

Tiger Slayer combines the gifts of historian Ruby Lal and artist Molly Crabapple to uncover the vibrant and diverse culture of Mughal India and tell the compelling story of a daring, brilliant woman who achieved unequaled power and fame.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781324030331
Publisher:	Norton Young Readers
Publication date:	08/05/2025
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Ruby Lal is an award-winning historian of India and professor of South Asian history at Emory University whose writing has appeared in Time, BBC History, and Literary Hub. She is the author of Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan, which was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Her most recent book, Vagabond Princess: The Great Adventures of Gulbadan, was longlisted for the prestigious Cundill History Prize and received praise from the BBC, Wall Street Journal, and Times Literary Supplement, among others. She divides her time between Atlanta, Georgia, and Delhi, India.

Molly Crabapple is an artist and writer whose articles and art have appeared in the New York Times, New York Review of Books, Paris Review, Rolling Stone, and The New Yorker. Her work has been nominated for three Emmys, has been longlisted for the National Book Award, and is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. She lives in New York City.