x dismiss this message
Did you know you can edit this page?
-
Sign Into Shelfari
-
Choose something to edit
-
Save your contributions
see page history
Description edit
Journey to dazzling seventeenth-century Hindustan, where the reigning emperor, consumed with grief over the tragic death of his beloved wife, commissions the building of the Taj Mahal as a testament to the marvel of their love. Princess Jahanara, their courageous daughter, recounts their... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Jahanara: The novel's protagonist and granddaughter of the Emperor Jahangir. Isa calls her "swallow."
- Shah Jahan: Emperor and Jahanara's father
- Nizam: Personal slave of Mumtaz Mahal, later a friend and guardian of Jahanara
- Dara: One of Jahanara's four brothers, the one kindest toward her. His father's favorite and heir apparent to the throne.
- Aurangzeb: The third of Jahanara's four brothers characterized as often sullen and remote; cruel to Jahanara; Also known as Alamgir
- Shivaji: Military leader of the Hindu Marathas and Aurangzeb's enemy.
- Ladli: Hindu and servant but Jahanara's dearest friend.
- Khondamir: Jahanara's abusive husband, a silver merchant, twice the age of Jahanara, who has frequently opposed the Emperor's policies. Jahanara's father is hoping that an arranged marriage between him and his daughter would facilitate acceptance of his policies.
- Ustad (Master) Isa: Architect for the mausoleum for Jahanara's mother, the Taj Mahal. This is not necessarily historical fact, but is critical to the book.
- Arjumand: Jahanara' s daughter
- Gulbadan: One of two of Jahanara's granddaughters who she is telling the story of her life to.
- Rurayya: One of two of Jahanara's granddaughters who she is telling the story of her life to.
- Balkhi: Aurangzeb's brutish bodyguard
- Mumtaz Mahal: Third and favorite wife of Shah Jahan. Mother of Dara, Jahanara and Aurangzeb
- Shah: One of Jahanara's brothers
- Murad: One of Jahanara's brothers
Quotes edit
-
“He's as paranoid as a virgin in a brothel.”
Ladli -
“Allah has blessed us with children," Father whispered. "So much pleasure in the making, so much joy in the watching them blossom."”
Shah Jahan -
“The next few years were peaceful, quiet in the way Allah intended. Infants learned to crawl while our elderly journeyed to Paradise.”
Setting & Locations edit
The setting of this novel is 17th century Hindustan, the traditional name for India.
- Red Fort: A citadel located on the Yamuna River comprised of bazaars, mosques, temples courtyards and private residences of the late Emperor Jahangir and harem.
- Karkhanas: Imperial workshops within the Red Fort
- Agra: A city on the Yamuna River; site of the Red Fort and Taj Mahal.
- Delhi: Isa and Jahanara spends several days in this city purchasing white marble for the Taj Mahal.
- The Long Walk: A trade route from Agra to Delhi and Lahore paralleling the Yamuna River.
First Sentence edit
In the early days, when I was still an innocent girl, my father believed in perfection.
Table of Contents edit
1. Part One
I. My Awakening
II. First Betrayal
III. Childhood Lost
IV. Darkness
V. A Promise to Keep
2. Part Two
VI. The Truth of Dreams
VII. Pain and Longing
VIII. Allah Smiles
IX. A Sense of Love
X. Brothers as Princes
XI. Daybreak
XII. Friends for Trade
XIII. Karma
3. Part Three
XIV. A Tear on the Cheek of Time
XV. The Hands of Isa
XVI. Consequences
XVII. Death and Dishonor
XVIII. Curse of the Living
XIX. Journeys
XX. Shivaji
XXI. Rebirth
4. Part Four
XXII. Allah's Desertion
XXIII. Retribution
XXIV. Passages
XXV. The Clarity of Twilight
Themes & Symbolism edit
Authors & Contributors edit
- John Shors (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: McPherson
Country: United States
Publication Date: May 21, 2004
ISBN: 0929701712
Page Count: 324
Publisher: McPherson
Country: United States
Publication Date: May 21, 2004
ISBN: 0929701712
Page Count: 324
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PS3619.H668 B46
- Dewey: 813.6
Subjects edit
Popular Tags
See all 50 tags
Books Cited by This Book edit
We’re hiding the errata, movie connections, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book and books that cite this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.
You were just viewing this book on Diana Welt’s shelf.
