"The Taj Mahal (1631), one of the Seven Wonders of the World, has been
beautifully exalted in the hands of the Prestons....They skillfully unveil the history of the
16th-19th-century Moghul Empire, especially its architecture, campaigns, and court life....
a reliable source for readers wanting to understand the splendor of the Taj Mahal in
historical context."--Library Journal

"Though many questions about the Taj remain unanswered, this small history breaks
through the legendary façade to reveal a powerful backstory."--Publishers Weekly

"Enriching in its historical sweep and context."--Kirkus Reviews

While Galileo was suffering under house arrest at the hands of Pope Urban VIII, the Thirty
Years War was ruining Europe, and the Pilgrims were struggling to survive in the New
World, work began on what would become one of the Seven Wonders of the World: the
Taj Mahal. Built by the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his beloved wife,
Mumtaz Mahal, its flawless symmetry and gleaming presence have for centuries dazzled
all who have seen it.

The story of its creation is a fascinating blend of cultural and architectural heritage. Yet,
as Diana and Michael Preston vividly convey in the first narrative history of the Taj Mahal,
it also reflects the magnificent history of the Moghul Empire, beginning with legendary
warriors Genghis Khan and Tamburlaine.