Ruby Lal

Four centuries ago, a Muslim woman ruled an empire. Nur Jahan, daughter of a Persian noble and widow of a subversive official, became the twentieth and most cherished wife of the Emperor Jahangir. Nur ruled the vast Mughal Empire alongside her husband, leading troops into battle, signing imperial orders, and astutely handling matters of the state. Acclaimed historian Ruby Lal...

Four centuries ago, a Muslim woman ruled an empire. Nur Jahan, daughter of a Persian noble and widow of a subversive official, became the twentieth and most cherished wife of the Emperor Jahangir. Nur ruled the vast Mughal Empire alongside her husband, leading troops into battle, signing imperial orders, and astutely handling matters of the state. Acclaimed historian Ruby Lal...

A captivating biography of one of the world’s greatest adventurers, the itinerant Mughal Princess Gulbadan, based on her long-forgotten memoir Situated in the early decades of the powerful Mughal Empire, this first-ever biography of Princess Gulbadan offers an enthralling portrait of a charismatic adventurer and a unique perspective on the multicultural society in which she lived. Following a migratory childhood...

A captivating biography of one of the world's greatest adventurers, the itinerant Mughal Princess Gulbadan, based on her long-forgotten memoir. Longlisted for the 2024 Cundill History Prize "Ruby Lal coaxes the remarkable Gulbadan out from the shadows of history." — Sara Wheeler, Wall Street Journal Situated in the early decades of the magnificent Mughal Empire, this first-ever biography of Princess...

More than four centuries ago in India, a Muslim woman ruled a magnificent empire: Nur Jahan, whose name means "light of the world." Nur led troops into battle atop an elephant, hunted tigers, designed public buildings, and issued coinage and royal decrees in her own name. In a world dominated by men, her astute handling of court politics and affairs...