The Mughal dynasty and its stories of valor, love, and betrayal are famous across the world.

The Mughals contributed a lot in the field of literature, architecture, and art that are mentioned in several books. Over the years, writers and researchers from all over the world have shown interest in Mughal history. Following is a list of five books on Mughal India that you must not miss.

Empire of the Moghul

Empire of the Moghul is a series of six books by Alex Rutherford. Each book is dedicated to an emperor amongst the first six Mughals; Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb. This book series speaks in detail about the emperors, their lives, and the nature of their rule. However, these novels fall in the genre of ‘historical fiction’, as the writer has narrated the stories in a fairy tale manner to make them more appealing to the readers. The books are a perfect amalgamation of facts and a figment of the writer’s imagination.

The Crows Of Agra

The Crows Of Agra by Sharath Komarraju is a phenomenal blend of history and fiction. The book is set in the year 1562 when emperor Akbar is merely twenty years old. The riveting plot of the book is pivoted around the murder of a significant minister and the socio-political scenario during the emperor’s rule.

The Twentieth Wife

The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan speaks about the journey of Mehr-un-nissa from being the daughter of a court noble to become the Empress of Hindusthan. The writer has used simple language and words to make it an enthralling read. The novel captures the second half of Akbar’s reign, the infamous rebellion of Salim against his father, the demise of Akbar, and the accession of Salim to the throne as Jahangir. Through this book, you can obtain a vivid understanding of the politics that was practiced within the harem during the Mughal era making the novel enjoyable and knowledgeable.

The Life of a Mogul Princess Jahanara Begum: Daughter of Shahjahan

Andrea Butenschon’s ‘The Life of a Mogul Princess Jahanara Begum: Daughter of Shahjahan’ is the English translation of the autobiography of Princess Jahanara herself. It is believed that the author had found a handwritten copy of the autobiography in the Persian language, behind a loose marble slab in the Jasmine Tower of Agra Fort. She translated the script in 1931, three hundred years after it had been written. Since it is the original writing of the princess herself, there is more history and less fiction in it. The book talks about the interests of the princess, her love for literature and art, her faith in religion, and the close bond with her father, Shah Jahan.

The Last Mughal

The Last Mughal is a masterpiece and probably the best book that is ever written on the Mughals. William Dalrymple in this book narrates the story of Bahadur Shah Zaffar and the fall of the Mughal empire and the beginning of the Colonial rule in India. Dalrymple has put in immense effort and research to make this book a massive success.

So, which book are you planning to read?