The Book of Emperors - by Ashwitha Jayakumar (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A little over five hundred years ago, a boy sat in a garden, waiting for his story to begin. His name was Babur, and he would soon found an empire that astonished the world.

For three hundred years, Babur's sons and grandsons, alongside their mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters, would wage wars, make art and music, eat a delicious fruit or two, and both shape and be shaped by the land they made their home.

History would call them the Mughals. The Book of Emperors tells their stories.

Review Quotes

The Book of Emperors depicts the kaleidoscope world of the Mughals grounded in meticulous research while never straying into the laborious. Instead, it is a vividly illustrated and evocatively rendered history of the Mughals that is entertaining and joyful, for the young and the young at heart alike.--Ira Mukhoty, author of Akbar: The Great Mughal

The Book of Emperors is a captivating book that seamlessly blends vivid storytelling with exquisite Mughal miniature-inspired imagery. Ashwitha and Nikhil bring to life an extraordinary lost world from the majestic courts to the intricacies of everyday life. It is a brilliant book, and a wonderful new introduction to Mughal history.--Sam Dalrymple, Historian

The Book of Emperors is like stepping into the pages of history, where each image and the corresponding text weaves the story of the Mughals into a captivating tapestry for the reader. Whether you're a history buff or a curious reader, this book promises to delight and educate, offering a fresh perspective on the Mughal Empire.--Rana Safvi, author of In Search of the Divine

The Book of Emperors tells a vivid tale of the ambitions, achievements and contradictions that make the Mughals one of the most fascinating dynasties in the world. Besides the emperors themselves, from Babur to Zafar, the book includes a vast and wonderful supporting cast of queens, princes and princesses, poets and painters, advisers and traders--not to mention animals--taking us deep into the Mughal world. With its beautiful illustrations and writing that carries you at a swift, entertaining pace through the great ups and terrible downs of this magnificent dynasty, The Book of Emperors is great reading for both children and adults--I enjoyed it immensely. --Parvati Sharma, author of Akbar of Hindustan

Astonishingly illustrated, impeccably researched, I have never seen early modern India brought to life like this. The Book of Emperors' characters are as dazzling as its cityscapes, and it charts stormy historical waters with empathy and confidence. Every page is as pleasurable as a garden. There can be no better gateway to a dynasty that shaped, and continues to shape, us all.--Anirudh Kanisetti, author of Lords of the Deccan

Deftly narrated, with a vivid, memorable cast of characters, The Book of Emperors is both a neat account of the Mughals as well as pure visual delight. A charming introduction to the men and women who made India's last great empire, its pages offer a window into a fascinating chapter of our past. --Manu Pillai, author of Rebel Sultans

Lucid, lively and engrossing; this is an authentic account that brings alive the fascinating world of the Great Mughals . . . a primer for anyone who wants to start reading about [them] --Rameen Khan, founder of City Tales

Most of us meet history in school, where the captivating details have been raked and buried under a smooth narrative. Here, the Mughal story is balanced, and is gripping without being bewildering.--Narayani Gupta, Urban Historian

The action packed story of the rising and falling fortunes of the Mughal dynasty. The light, breezy text and profuse illustrations actually show us what different Mughals were really like, and how they lived.--Swapna Liddle, author of The Broken Script: Delhi Under the East India Company and the Fall of the Mughal Dynasty, 1803-1857

Through sixteen emperors and four hundred years of history, this beautifully written and illustrated account of the Mughal empire will inspire readers of all ages. As an art historian, I love it!--Dr Ursula Weekes, independent Art Historian

About the Author

Ashwitha Jayakumar has written and adapted over a dozen books for young readers on history, mythology and science. After graduating with a master's degree in Literature and Society: 1688-1900 from the University of Edinburgh, she taught English literature to secondary school students and worked in publishing before doing an MA in medieval studies from the University of Leeds entirely for fun. She's mad about history, fantasy novels, chocolate and dogs.
Nikhil Gulati is an author and illustrator who loves to tell stories that inspire wonder. He is the award-winning creator behind The People of the Indus, a graphic novel history of the Indus Valley Civilization.