The story of India's great flowering of wealth and cultural splendour
'Entertainingly written history . . . ravishingly beautiful photographs.'
The Times
Bamber Gascoigne's classic book tells of the most fascinating period of Indian history, the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when the country was ruled by the extraordinarily talented dynasty of emperors known to European travellers as 'the Great Moghuls', for their almost limitless power and incomparable wealth.
Here is a unique picture of the way of life of India's most flamboyant rulers, their sublime palaces, their passions in art, science and religion, and their sophisticated system of administration that stabilized the greater part of India and was later adopted by the British.
Acclaimed by travellers and scholars alike, and beautifully illustrated in colour with sixteen pages of photographs, this is a book for anyone with an interest in India's glorious past and an engaging survey of a splendid culture and its singular achievements.
Entertainingly written history . . . ravishingly beautiful photographs. - The Times
Thoroughly sound. . . extremely readable. - Times Literary Supplement
While the story rattles along it is also built on sound and scholarly foundations. . . a sumptuous and splendid tribute to a dynasty and to a country which has never ceased to attract the British. - History Today
A tremendous story, full of delight as well as the requisite horrors . . . unreservedly to be recommended. - Oxford Mail