The Complete Taj Mahal

Book Description

The greatest monument to love, and the lost world of the Agra gardens and their characterful owners, re-created through superb scholarship and evocative illustrations.

The Taj Mahal is the epitome of Mughal art and one of the most famous buildings in the world. Yet there have been few serious studies of it and no full analysis of its architecture and meaning.Ebba Koch is the only scholar who has been permitted to take measurements of the complex. She has been working on the palaces and gardens of Shah Jahan for thirty years and on the Taj Mahal itself—the tomb of the emperor's wife, Mumtaz Mahal—for a decade.

The tomb represents the house of the queen in Paradise, and the author shows how its setting was based on the palace gardens of the great nobles that lined both sides of the river at Agra. She leads the reader through the entire complex of the Taj Mahal, with an explanation of each building and an account of the mausoleum's urban setting, its design and construction, its symbolic meaning, and its history up to the present day.

The book features hundreds of new photographs plus drawings by the Indian architect Richard Barraud that include plans and reconstructions of Agra and the Taj complex as they looked in Shah Jahan's time.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book!.......2007-09-26

Having visited the Taj Mahal, I wanted to have an authoritative book on the history behind its construction and this book is not only an excellent souce, but also a very good photographic record of this amazing Wonder of the World!

A Ten-Star Book that Is Without Parallel.......2007-04-15

Having read a number of books about the Taj Mahal, including the recently published "Taj Mahal: Passion and Genius...," I would bet good money that if given a copy of Ebba Koch's book to preview, those truly interested in India's national treasure will buy "The Complete Taj Mahal," even if they have to skip lattes or lunches to afford it, even if they have already done so to afford Okada/Joshi/Nou's "Taj Mahal" with its stunning photography.

One reason, of course, is that TCTM is so complete. To others' overviews of the material covered, I would add only that Koch does not neglect the human element. For example, in eight introductory pages of text, Koch provides excellent background information about Shah Jahan, his wife and his predecessors; later, she details Jahan's passion for building. Koch also includes interesting information about the artisans, craftsmen and laborers who did the actual work as well as details about others associated with the Taj-related structures/gardens of Agra. Further humanizing the story of this garden city are colorful Mughal paintings of its nobility and rulers.

Another aspect of TCTM that makes it a must-have are the many photographs of sites, structures and architectural ornamentation, photographs "The Hindu" declared "often brilliant" as well as "judiciously chosen." Just how apt these descriptions are is suggested by the following: There were only seven pages of O/J/Nou's photographic extravaganza of the Taj complex that I photocopied to tuck into Koch's book, and of them, five were additional close-ups of floral inlays and calligraphy. Adding to the appeal of TCTM is that the camera goes beyond the splendors of the Taj complex. Of special interest to those who have been in Agra, for instance, will be the realistic photographs of the Taj Mahal peeking above the "agglomeration of haphazard constructions" that have "almost obliterated" its bazaar and caravanserai. Shown, too, are its architectural precedents as well as artisan workshops and quarries. Though most of the photographs in this book are in color, even those in black and white are revealing.

Also making TCTM next to impossible to resist are the "company drawings," most of which are in color as well. Forerunners of postcards, they were "made by local artists in the early days of the Raj" for European tourists, who bought them "to illustrate their journals." Works of art in themselves, often the drawings are so detailed that they could easily be photographs. But they do not serve as mere eye candy: many are of Taj-related structures that no longer exist or have been stripped of all that made them magnificent; some are juxtaposed with recent photographs to show the toll time has taken on the brilliance of color and intricacy of design. Evocative paintings and watercolors of the Taj Mahal by foreign artists are included as well.

What may ultimately sell people on TCTM, however, is that it is a book they will actually enjoy reading much if not all of. Not only is Koch's narrative writing fluid and easy-to-digest. Even her descriptions of architecture will be relatively easy for laymen to understand, provided that they are willling to refer to the glossary of terms and look at the many visual aids, including Barraud's "precise and clear" line drawings, that accompany the text. So well done is this book, in fact, that as "The Hindu" noted, even "information which is more technical and not at face value so interesting to general readers will, in fact, be found by them to be equally absorbing." (All I would personally exclude from this are the two pages of precise measurements of the Taj complex.)

To another reviewer's assertion that TCTM is a book that "should be in the library of anyone fascinated by the Taj Mahal, not just historians and architects," I add a thousand "Amen's."

Agra the Extraordinary.......2007-03-16

A superlative volume showing in detail and with historic drawings, maps, and photos, as well modern illustrations and reconstructions the unsurpassed achievements of the Mughal in residential garden architecture. The riverbanks of the Yamuna River as it passes through Agra was where this artistic impulse achieved culmination in the seventeenth century garden residences and tombs sponsored by the nobles and rulers of the Mughal state and built by the craftsmen of India. One of the signal contributions of this book is the inclusion of the stories of the architects, carpenters, and masons who left their signatures and marks on the individual elements of the overall project. The residential and tomb gardens which stretched along the river and are now mostly gone gave way at midpoint to the grandest residence of all, the Red Fort which remains today the second greatest landmark of Agra. And at the southern end of the development stands today the greatest tomb ever built, one of the architectural wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. The work is so complete that it documents not only the construction efforts but also the tourism that followed and the depth to which the Taj Mahal became embedded in the consciousness of the world. The culmination of three decades of meticulous research this substantial volume tells an engrossing story of the planning, development, and eventual decline of a unique garden city. It more than fulfills the adjective "complete" and should be in the library of anyone fascinated by the Taj Mahal, not just historians and architects. A truly extraordinary accomplishment.

Taj Mahal: Passion and Genius at the Heart of the Moghul Empire

Average customer rating:

You get the Taj and much more!
portrait of a world icon and the human landscape behind it
Highly recommended
Caveat Emptor: Only 1/4th of the Book Focuses on the Taj Mahal Complex

Taj Mahal: Passion and Genius at the Heart of the Moghul Empire
Diana Preston , and Michael Preston
Manufacturer: Walker & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

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The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty: Delhi, 1857
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ASIN: 0802715117
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Book Description

While Galileo suffered under house arrest at the hands of Pope Urban VIII, the Thirty Years War ruined Europe, and the Pilgrims struggled 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 everyone who has seen it, and the story of its creation is a fascinating blend of cultural and architectural heritage. Yet, as Diana & Michael Preston vividly convey in the first narrative history of the Taj, it also reflects the magnificent history of the Moghul Empire itself, for it turned out to mark the high point of the Empire’s glory at the same time as it became a tipping point in Moghul fortunes.

The roots of the Moghul Empire lie with the legendary warriors Genghis Khan and Tamburlaine; at its height it contained 100 million people, from Afghanistan in the north and present-day Pakistan in the west, to Bengal in the east and southwards deep into central India.. With the storytelling skills that characterize their previous books, Diana & Michael Preston bring alive both the grand sweep of Moghul history and the details that make it memorable: the battles and dynastic rivalries that forged the Empire alongside an intimate chronicle of daily life within the imperial palace. A tale of overwhelming passion, the story of the Taj has the cadences of Greek tragedy and the ripe emotion of grand opera, and puts a memorable human face on the marble masterpiece.

Customer Reviews:

You get the Taj and much more!.......2007-07-30

For those that want to see complete visuals and illustrations of the Taj Mahal, then this book is not for you. It contained many photos but most were taken at a distance and others were a bit blurry. Even my heavily scratched reading glasses did not assist in delivering me an adequate detailed photo. I visited the Taj, in 2002, and have more interesting photos than what was portrayed in the book. I also visited the Red Fort in 2006, which was also described in the book.
The only other 'pessimistic item' that I would write about was that, at times, it was difficult to follow the authors when they would describe informative detail on the building and how it was constructed. Since there were no photos about these fine details to observe, this information proved difficult to follow. It could be just me. I am a very visual person and that describing things in detail usually averts my attention. I need visuals!
Now, for the good side. I thought the book was very informative on the Moghul empire. It discusses all the friction between the families on the strive to gain power and gives you a pretty good account of the history of India(Moghul empire, mainly) during that time frame. It also makes you understand why imperialistic empires just don't survive and how the desire for power destroyed this infamous empire. I am no avid historian and have read only a few books containing any history of India. Even though I lack the historical background of India, I found the book easy to read and follow. Basically I read it in 2 days and found the information that the authors presented to be fascinating. I felt as if I was standing there watching the whole thing unfold in front of my eyes. In addition, I was able to perceive the physical sensation of the characters written within the pages. It takes a very special history book to keep my attention span going and this book did the trick. Most history books take me a month to finish.
So overall, I enjoyed the book and if you are a person that has no direction or sense of history, you, my friend, will enjoy it as well. The only thing that I regret was not reading this information prior to seeing the Taj in 2002. If I did, I would have had a better feeling of what it represented than being just a silly tourist making a checklist on all the famous places that I have visited. Oh well...
Read it. I guarantee that you will enjoy it!

portrait of a world icon and the human landscape behind it .......2007-04-11

initially I was interested in this book because a decade ago, I'd written about Mumtaz Mahal, the woman for whom the Taj was built. I was amazed at the book's insights. One in particular moved me--it showed how Shah Jahan publicly revealed his deep grief over his wife's death. By going public, he broke the rules of Indian society by showing his feelings in such a manner--considered signs of weakness in a man, especially a ruler. But this book took on even more meaning after taking a recent 3-week trip to India. In the Preston book, I'd read how uncounted thousands of laborers, men and women, had built the foundations of the Taj with little besides their hands. That seemed hard to believe. But in Agra and other places, I was astonished to see women and men doing repair work on grand monuments like the Taj, moving stones in baskets, carrying loads of excavated earth upon their heads--exactly as described in the Preston book. Since I collect books, I like those that cover a topic well and give me unusual facts, too. From this one, I found out something I'd always wanted to know: that the backwards swastika seen everywhere in India represents the way the cosmos spreads outward in four directions. Cool. Being a nonfiction writer myself, I know what a challenge it is to tackle a popular topic that, one would think, has been "done to death." The Prestons have risen to the challenge and succeeded brilliantly.

Highly recommended.......2007-04-10

This is a wonderful book, beautifully written and presented with fine illustrations. I started reading the book on my return from a business trip in India and found that the perspective the book provided on the Moghul empire helped me understand the beauty of their art and architecture. The Taj Mahal is the highlight of the Moghul art and architecture . The book helps the reader understand the context in which this building was created. I highly recommend this book.

Caveat Emptor: Only 1/4th of the Book Focuses on the Taj Mahal Complex.......2007-03-25

Although the Prestons' book is well written, only a portion of it delivers what its title and cover seem to promise. This, of course, you will quickly discover if you have a copy to preview. If you don't, you should know that much of the book focuses on the struggles to gain/keep territory and the throne over the course of almost two centuries and six shahs. There is also much information about various shahs' idiosyncrasies and addictions, their strengths and weaknesses as leaders, and the customs of their courts and harems. What 3/4ths of the Prestons' book is really about, in fact, is equally well covered in the aptly entitled "A Brief History of the Great Moghuls: India's Most Flamboyant Rulers" (reprinted 2002) and "Mughal Throne: The Saga of India's Great Emperors" (reprinted 2005).

It is difficult to rate the approximately 60 pages of text in the Prestons' book that do focus on the Taj complex, including the people directly involved in its construction, its ornamentation, its antecedents, the toll time has taken on it and the theory that Shah Jahan had planned a different mausoleum for himself. Those who are reading about the complex in depth for the first time will likely find the material interesting; those who have read other books on the subject are unlikely to find much that is new.

Unfortunately, it is not at all difficult to rate the 23 snapshots of the Taj complex and related funerary architecture in this book. First, most are grainy black and grays that reveal little more than general outlines. Second, even the seven in color (four of them small ones of interior details) are taken from too great a distance to reveal technical brilliance or artistry. That only the cover and another mood shot of the mausoleum appear to be the work of a professional is a major weakness in a book that purports to be about the genius of the Taj Mahal, for only superb photography can truly convey much of it. As for drawings to illuminate structural detail, the only two merely shade in an arch and a vault.

For the reasons noted above and more, if you are interested in India's national treasure, you will do yourself a great favor if, before deciding on the Prestons' book, you investigate the following: 1) Okada, Joshi & Nou's TAJ MAHAL (1993), a visually stunning and informative book which can easily be accessed by going to the list of What Customers Also Buy at the site of 2) E. Koch's THE COMPLETE TAJ MAHAL (2006), a TEN-STAR BOOK I could not resist buying even though I already own Okada's. (Incidentally, that the Prestons' bookcover is almost identical to Koch's does not make their book comparable to hers.)

Islamic Art and Architecture: From Isfahan to the Taj Mahal

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Islamic Art and Architecture: From Isfahan to the Taj Mahal
Normal book
Breathtakingly beautiful!
A Photographic Journey of Islamic Art and Architecture

Islamic Art and Architecture: From Isfahan to the Taj Mahal

Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Splendors of Islam: Architecture, Decoration and Design
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The Art of the Islamic Garden

ASIN: 0500511004

Book Description

Turquoise and marble cupolas, arches adorned with flowers and arabesques, motionless basins reflecting slender minarets, sparkling enamels of floral bouquets, miniatures populated by lovers stretched out in the shade—all these form part of the luxury decoration, refinement, and high spirituality that we define as "Persian style."

This subtle art is revealed in magical locations such as Isfahan, rich in mosques and palaces; Bukhara and Samarkand with their shining domes; Lahore and the gardens of Shalimar; the Red Fort of Delhi, exalted as an earthly paradise; and the miraculous Taj Mahal of Agra. For a thousand years, from the frontiers of Iran to the heart of India, architects, landscape gardeners, calligraphers, miniaturists, and weavers have made their mark on Islamic art and architecture. This lavishly illustrated book examines the sources, analyzes the forms, and discusses the mystic themes and symbolism of the immense heritage handed down by Islamic artists and craftsmen. Over 500 color photographs and illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Islamic Art and Architecture: From Isfahan to the Taj Mahal.......2005-07-23

The book portrays Islamic architecture through the ages and throughout the Muslim world in a manner that portrays both it's beauty and the similar features that transcend geography and time. It is particularly enlightening to Westerners who have little exposure to history, the non-Western world, or Islam.

Normal book.......2004-05-07

I have visited a lot of the countries which have monuments described in this book. I would say that this is normal book for such price. But if someone is interested in one of the cultural centres more deeply I recommend to find something else.

Breathtakingly beautiful!.......2003-08-04

The author (Mr. Stierlin) is designated as an "art historian". That is true, but far from complete. Judging from this book, he is also an outstanding photographer. Many books of this type are sabotaged by mediocre photography; not this one! If you have an interest in beautiful architecture beyond the shores of America, you should get this book.

A Photographic Journey of Islamic Art and Architecture.......2002-12-24

A great book for someone searching for some kind of beauty,this book will touch your heart.So sit back and relax and enjoy your journey.

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Romance of the Taj Mahal
Pratapaditya Pal , Janice Leoshko , Joseph M. Dye III , and Stephen Markel
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

The Moonlight Garden: New Discoveries at the Taj Mahal (Asian Art and Culture)
The Complete Taj Mahal

ASIN: 0500235562

Average customer rating:

In Comparison to Two Recently Published Books on the Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
JEWEL OF INDIA
Enchanting !
Excellent book

Taj Mahal
Amina Okada , and Mohan C. Joshi
Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Complete Taj Mahal
The Royal Palaces of India
Princely Rajasthan: Rajput Palaces and Mansions
Jaipur: The Last Destination
The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty: Delhi, 1857

ASIN: 1558596178

Book Description

Built between 1632 and 1643 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is unquestionably the most renowned mausoleum in the world. Now this legendary monument to love can be seen as no visitor to the site has ever viewed it. On the pages of this exquisitely illustrated volume, the Taj Mahal is revealed detail by detail. Starting inside the mausoleum, a sequence of closeups show the semiprecious stones, inlaid in white marble, that form the interior's Koranic calligraphy and floral patterns. The next sequence of images presents the octogonal plan of the structure, emphasizing both its perfect symmetry and its subtle variations. The final sequence is devoted to the decorative patterns carved in the walls of the mosque and entrance gate. In addition, four lavish fold-out photographs show the entire Taj Mahal complex from different perspectives.

In their informative texts, authors Amina Okada and M.C. Joshi provide historical and architectural analyses of the Taj Mahal. Quotations from the Koran and from the journals of travelers as diverse as Jean-Bapiste Tavernier, Pierre Loti, and Aldous Huxley complete a breathtaking tribute.

Customer Reviews:

In Comparison to Two Recently Published Books on the Taj Mahal.......2007-04-14

Because I referred readers to this book in my 3-STAR review of the Prestons' TAJ MAHAL: PASSION AND GENIUS... (2007), I want to offer a more specific comparison of the two. Significantly, the amount of text each devotes to the Taj complex and those directly associated with it is the same. So, too, is most of the information. But rather than detailing differences--such as that only in this book are criticisms of the mausoleum or that only in the Prestons' are technical details about the water system as well as inconsequential elaboration on who could not have been the architect of the Taj--let it suffice to say that regardless of which book you own, the notes you'd add from the other would amount to but a few pages, unless you'd also want to copy the two pages of translated calligraphic inscriptions that appear only in Okada/Joshi/Nou's.

What makes the two books so dramatically different is that 3/4ths of this one is devoted to showing readers the Taj Mahal complex via Nou's stunning photographs, all of which are in color. There are, for example, 56 of the interior of the mausoleum: 7 are two-page spreads; 40 fill an entire page; many are close-ups that reveal astounding detail. Also given extensive photographic coverage is the exterior of the mausoleum as well as the complex's mosque, guest house and main gate. And showing the magnificence of the entire complex from different perspectives are 4 three-page foldouts.

So many photographs are there in this book, in fact, that as revealing as they are, many begin to have a sameness about them. That the explanations of the architecture/ornamentation are not integrated with the photography may also be a negative for some as may be the absence of any photographs of the related funerary architecture that Joshi discusses. Nevertheless, if you are primarily interested in photographs of the splendors of the Taj Mahal complex as it now appears, you will find none better than Nou's. Before deciding on this book, however, I strongly recommend that you investigate one that merits 10 STARS: Ebba Koch,'s THE COMPLETE TAJ MAHAL, published in 2006.

Taj Mahal.......2007-01-11

Following my recent visit to India I purched the book Taj Mahal as a permanent reminder of this magnificent building. The photographs in the book are of a very high standard and have been taken when there is an absence of visitors - a level the average sightseer can never achieve. The special lighting and techniques used for the internal photography makes you feel as though you are actually there. Added to this there is a very informative narrative on the history of and how the Taj Mahal was built. It is certainly a wonderful memento and am sure it will whet the appetite of future visitors.

JEWEL OF INDIA.......2006-03-04

The Taj Mahal is one of the most spectacularly beautiful buildings in the world, saying it's breathtaking does not do it justice. Not only is it gorgeous but it has one of the great romantic stories tied into its creation. This book does a wonderful job of giving the reader a real feel for this singular structure. The images are vivid and stunning and the scholarly text is highly informative. The intracate detail and exquisite craftmanship in this building are unparalleled. This sublime garden tomb is truly a wonder. If you have any interst in the Taj Mahal or just apprecate beautiful books then I cannot imagine you not loving this book, oh and be forwarned that after taking in this great book you will want to hop a plane to India.

Enchanting !.......2002-09-23

This famous monument of love has been a favorite of tourists especially romantics, for many generations now. Visitors from all over the world are drawn to its irresistible charm, beauty and grandeur.

This book, dedicated to the most famous man-made wonder, slowly reveals its glorious detail. Color close-ups of semi-precious stones inlaid in white marble, intricate carvings, decorative patterns, and calligraphy enchant the readers. These artistically taken pictures draw the reader's attention to detail that a regular tourist may have easily missed during visit to the Taj. In fact these pictures are such fine quality and detail as to distract the reader from the well-written text that accompanies them. Every time you pick up this book, you are likely to notice something new, some other fine detail that you missed the last time. We, at Recipedelights.com, think this book is a must-see-and-must-read for designers, artists, armchair tourists, tourists planning to visit Taj and even those who have already visited it.

Excellent book.......2000-11-23

Namaste (Hindu Hi)

this is the best book I have seen on the History of Taj Mahal, if you can't go to India to see the Taj Mahal buy this book this is excellent book, it will give you a very detailed photography of Taj Mahal, the photographer has done excellent work. I give it 5 stars & highly reccomend it.

The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Blues
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An Introduction to a Distinct American Art Form

The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Blues
David Evans
Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ethnic & International | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 039953072X

Book Description

Examining the changing face of the genre from its beginnings at the end of the 19th century to its international popularity today, this book traces the social climate that inspired the blues and takes a look at the unmistakable influences that blues had on 20th-century music. Includes information on performances from Muddy Waters to Eric Clapton.

Customer Reviews:

An Introduction to a Distinct American Art Form.......2006-06-23

National Public Radio has published "curious listener's" guides to a number of musical types, including classical, opera, folk, popular, and celtic. With its recent, "The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Blues" (2005), NPR offers a sympathetic, thoughtful, and broad-based guide to a uniquely American and African American music. The author, David Evans, is Professor of Music at the University of Memphis where he has designed a program in ethnomusicology with a specific specialization in southern folk and popular music. He has written widely on the blues and received a Grammy in 2003 for his liner notes to a seven-CD collection, "Screamin' and Hollering the Blues, The Worlds of Charley Patton."

Although the blues have received much popular attention in recent years, it is gratifying to see the increased amount of serious, scholarly study that the music is receiving. It is long overdue. Evans has written an introductory account of the blues that will, indeed, whet the appetite of the new listener, but he has done much more. He treats the music seriously, with an obvious love, and without stereotyping or hype. There is much to be learned from his book about the music, its history, its performers, and its place in American life.

The "blues" are notoriously difficult to define or to categorize, but Evans stresses that "[a]bove all else, blues music is about conveying personal feeling and, in so doing, reaching others and establishing a sense of life-affirming solidarity." (p. 165) With all its learning, this book keeps the emotional, personal core of the music at its center. Evans also describes in succinct, non-technical language the formal characteristics of the blues, the use of blue notes and chordal patterns, and the various types of interplay in the blues between vocal and instrumental lines. A chapter titled "the Language of the Blues" offers good basic guidance not only to the blues but to elementary music theory as well.

The early chapters of the book offer discussions of the origins of the blues near the beginning of the 20th century, and of its pioneer recordings. He discusses the varieties of the blues that have developed in its now century-long history, including the classic or vaudeville blues, country, folk blues, swing, and jump, electric blues, Chicago blues and much else through the appropriation of much of the blues sound by British and American rock and roll performers.

Evans also offers three related chapters giving biographies of many famous blues artists, detailed discussions of fifty blues songs, chosen for their excellence and representative character, and fifty blues CDs. These songs and CDs are well-chosen and non-dogmatically presented. They will give the new listener a cross-section of the types of music and artists that have formed the blues. The lists will form the basis for endless listening and enjoyment and will encourage the new listener to explore the blues further. Evans's concluding chapter includes a guide to books, magazines and websites devoted to the blues.

This book will appeal both to newcomers to the blues and to those who know and love the music. Most importantly, Evans shows the reader that the blues are not merely a product of "pop" culture, but rather are a serious, influential and passionate American music that will amply repay attention and study.

Robin Friedman

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A Testament of Enduring Love
A wonderful story of love and the tragedy of envy
An awesome saga
A Panorama Tour into India's Regal Past
Its eminently lyrical,informative& at the same time dramatic

Taj Mahal Lovers' Story
Mantoshe Singh Devji
Manufacturer: Two Lions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 8186773207

Book Description

Taj Mahal Lovers' Story is a story of India's Emperor Shah Jahan's eternallove for his beloved wife Mumtaz Muhal. Their tale of unwavering devotion and the rare beauty of their undying love can never be forgotten. The symbol of their love will forever be remembered in the Taj mahal. Currently this book is being produced as a major motion picture.

Customer Reviews:

A Testament of Enduring Love.......2006-09-23

A must read for Valentine's Day. In an age where love seems so rare, this is a historical and narrative account of one of the most famous love stories in the world that spawned one the seven wonders of the world. Love is not disposable, it cannot be killed, nor can it be erased, nor is a true love ever forgotten. There is a distinction between romantic delusions and a true enduring legacy etched on the heart. The love story behind the Taj Mahal exemplifies the later. When there is a heartbreak ... one of gifts of its tragedy are the legacies that are born inspired by the heart's most precious love ... and in the case of the Taj Mahal ... it was the memory of Queen Mumtaz Mahal to her widower. And the result was the architectural masterpiece now known centuries later as a testament to that love. So ... no ... you are not crazy to still be in love no matter how much time has passed. Upon Mumtaz Mahal's death Prince Jahal married again as he promised her. No wonder there is a thing called "The Rebecca Syndrome" .... but that's another tale.

A wonderful story of love and the tragedy of envy.......2002-01-23

Not only is the art work in this book simply georgeous, but the story pulls you in. It is a story of kings; and all of the love, betrayl, polotics, and friendship that goes with that. A balanced story of the human condition and the grand wonders that become of it. I highly recommend this book.

An awesome saga.......2001-06-29

This book is by far the best and most engrossing description that I have read so far about the Taj. Many have tried to write about it but none with such consummateness. I couldn't put the book down once I got started. The descriptions are both colourful and vivid. The reader feels as if he/she is there witnessing the actual turn of events. All emotions of Shah Jahan have been captured perfectly - from his love to his grief. An atmosphere of the Mughals has been built slowly and the reader is captivated by its realism and beauty. The best scene in the book is without doubt the one in Meena Baazar. This beautiful and thrilling saga is a must read.

A Panorama Tour into India's Regal Past.......2000-01-15

Ms. Singh Devji serves as a tour guide through the generations of exotic characters who begot Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. I could taste the dust and blood on the battlefields with Babar the Lion. Together with the Persian Princess and her female relatives, I explored the Meena Bazar and flirted demurely with the young noblemen. The author treated me like a member of the extended family as I witnessed the royal wedding, peeked in on the wedding night and watched the birth of the first princess, Jahanara.

Ms. Devji described the labyrinth of politics within the medieval harem, the opulence of the royal family in every day life, and the cruel punishments meted out to anyone who dared to displease the Indian Royal Family.

This book provides so much more than just the love story behind the construction of the Taj Mahal. The author takes us through thirteen decades of history from the steppes of Mongolia across Asia to Agra and Delhi. She filled the book with facts, and thankfully, a map, genealogy, and a glossary explaining Indian words and phrases. The only things missing on the tour were the cameras and tourist stands for souvenirs. However, Ms. Devji thought of that too. The book itself is a work of art-from the luxurious cover to the watercolor paintings of scenes depicting significant events.

For history buffs, fans of romantic novels, or the reader who enjoys an adventure story, this story does it all. It also looks great on the bookshelf.

Its eminently lyrical,informative& at the same time dramatic.......1999-09-30

The Taj Mahal Lovers' Story recounts one of the greatest love stories of world in a style which is eminently lyrical,informative & at the same time dramatic.With her magic pen,the author Mantoshe Singh Devji not only tells a love story, but her painstaking research is evident in the vivid details woven so well in the tapestry of the main story,so that each chapter is a delight to read. I loved her style,her depiction of the vibrant scenes where the characters are almost alive;the splendour & intrigues of the royal palaces;it is history& romance of a colourful era recounted with beauty & passion.An eminently readable book for readers of all ages.This is how this great love story was meant to be written. Liveleen Singh

Average customer rating:

A Rare and Beautiful Book

Taj Mahal
Caroline Arnold , and Madeleine Comora
Manufacturer: Carolrhoda Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 076132609X

Customer Reviews:

A Rare and Beautiful Book.......2007-03-14

A good book for kids about the Taj Mahal is hard to find. I know because I've been searching for one for quite a while. Those that I've found before this one were over-written and textbookish and the art didn't live up to the story, which is about a legendary love that created the most beautiful architecture in the world. At last, there is a book that will set any child's imagination soaring. It boasts an engaging story told in an age-appropriate vocabulary, with beautiful illustrations, framed in intricate, decorative borders. One can see from the quality of its binding and the color on its heavy pages that this book has been put together with great care and without cost-saving short-cuts. I would have loved it when I was a kid. I bought it for an eleven year-old who was delighted with it and actually put down her Game Boy to spend the afternoon reading it.

Average customer rating:

Arcitecture book

Great Buildings Model Kit
Julian Bicknell
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

Great Buildings Model Kit, by Steve Chapman. Each of these four models is an exact replica of the original building, perfectly scaled and in scale to each one of the other buildings in the kit. They are already precut (no scissors!) and come with clear and simple instructions so that architecture enthusiasts of all ages can put them together.

Great Buildings of the World, by Julian Bicknell. With 30 photographs and illustrations of the actual buildings and their architects and owners, and a lively history by a world-renowned architect, this instant introduction to architecture tells you all you need to know about the models you have built.

Customer Reviews:

Arcitecture book.......2001-02-13

This is a very elaborate book about arcitecture and how it relates to todays society. The models are great!

Average customer rating:

Journal: Taj Mahal

Manufacturer: Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 096455867X

Book Description

This title is sold with two alternate covers: one features a photograph of the Taj Mahal, considered the world's finest example of Mughal architecture, and the other offers a detailed image of the Taj Mahal's elaborate entrance.

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