markk

Sandwiched as his reign was by those of his father Akbar and his son Shah Jahan and subsequently overshadowed as he was by his remarkable consort Nur Jahan, the Mughal emperor Jahangir has received short shrift in the historical memory. Lisa Balabanlilar’s book rectifies much of this by providing a clear and sympathetic account of Jahangir's life that, while acknowledging his flaws, rebuts many of the claims that contributed to his historical marginalization. Yet her book is more than just a biography of Jahangir, as she uses his life as a window into the Mughal emperorship at its peak, showing how it operates and expressed the power of its occupant. It makes for a book that is rewarding reading not just for those interested in Jahangir but anyone interested in learning about the Mughal empire and how it was ruled.