Beneath a Marble Sky

In 1632, the Emperor of Hindustan, consumed by grief over the death of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, ordered the building of a grand mausoleum to symbolize the greatness of their love. Against scenes of unimaginable wealth and power, there were murderous sibling rivalries and cruel despotism. In Beneath a Marble Sky, Princess Jahanara tells the story of how the Taj Mahal came to be, and describes her own life as an agent in its creation and as a witness to the fateful events surrounding its completion. As a princess and a mother, a sister and a daughter, Jaharana faces impossible choices and discovers the real meaning of her regal birthright.