Tonight we are many, but in battle the many are nothing. In battle there is only the one. Each of you is that one.' Shah Jehan.
Thomas has done a masterly job of bringing alive a lost era of splendour and glory of the Muslim power in 16th century India. A time of absolute Moghul power which both the Portuguese and the English fighting sought after. They never dreamed of taking over India. All they were after was trading rights. Thomas has demonstrated great cultural insight of the time. Read and enjoy the game of chauker, savour the treat Moghul cuisine, lust at Indian love making, and engross yourself with palace intrigues. I found it impossible to disengage from this page turner.
One strand of the story has the protagonist desperately seeking some miraculous piece of knowledge which could make it easier on the Europeans come to parity with the Muslim world. Reminds me of myself now trying to do the same in the Europe, deep down there is a desire for making a signs any discovery to get the underdeveloped Muslims upto par with the mighty West. What a contrast of fortunes.
The book does a great job of presenting India as an independent and resplendent culture with able leaders. I particularly liked the very confident and astute Moghul leadership was portrayed in the book, as well as equally able Rajputs and Persians as powerful power brokers of the era.
A most wonderful tale indeed.
I emailed the author to ask him why he choose to re-name the great Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jehan in this tale, to which the answer was:
'I renamed them because I made up stuff enough that it was not a true biography. I didn't want to publish things I made up as though it were the true. In historical novels things just have to come out the way they did. You can be creative about how they got there. I know Shah Jahan got the idea for the Taj from the Udaipur lake palace but I made up how or why he did it. I don't think anybody alive now knows. I stole the concept from Shogun. Not many readers are like you and know or care. I'm pretty sure there wasn't an Englishman there playing the sitar. (Which I have played myself.)' Thomas Hoover (9-9-13).
Thomas has done a masterly job of bringing alive a lost era of splendour and glory of the Muslim power in 16th century India. A time of absolute Moghul power which both the Portuguese and the English fighting sought after. They never dreamed of taking over India. All they were after was trading rights. Thomas has demonstrated great cultural insight of the time. Read and enjoy the game of chauker, savour the treat Moghul cuisine, lust at Indian love making, and engross yourself with palace intrigues. I found it impossible to disengage from this page turner.
One strand of the story has the protagonist desperately seeking some miraculous piece of knowledge which could make it easier on the Europeans come to parity with the Muslim world. Reminds me of myself now trying to do the same in the Europe, deep down there is a desire for making a signs any discovery to get the underdeveloped Muslims upto par with the mighty West. What a contrast of fortunes.
The book does a great job of presenting India as an independent and resplendent culture with able leaders. I particularly liked the very confident and astute Moghul leadership was portrayed in the book, as well as equally able Rajputs and Persians as powerful power brokers of the era.
A most wonderful tale indeed.
I emailed the author to ask him why he choose to re-name the great Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jehan in this tale, to which the answer was:
'I renamed them because I made up stuff enough that it was not a true biography. I didn't want to publish things I made up as though it were the true. In historical novels things just have to come out the way they did. You can be creative about how they got there. I know Shah Jahan got the idea for the Taj from the Udaipur lake palace but I made up how or why he did it. I don't think anybody alive now knows. I stole the concept from Shogun. Not many readers are like you and know or care. I'm pretty sure there wasn't an Englishman there playing the sitar. (Which I have played myself.)' Thomas Hoover (9-9-13).
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