Taj Mahal – Abbeville Press

A sumptuously illustrated portrait of perhaps the most fascinating architectural marvel of all time.
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 octagonal 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.

Editorial Reviews

„It is not just the sweep but the detail that makes Taj Mahal so enveloping, as the glorious filigreed stonework and calligraphic mosaics are freshly jeweled by the color images of the late master of Indian photography.“
– The San Diego Union-Tribune

„The most astonishing of Nou’s photographs are close-ups of the floral inlays that run riot in the mausoleum’s luminous and arabesque interior. Every surface is alive with the grace of flowers and the animated strokes of Qur’anic calligraphy. Nou’s impressive exterior shots display the opulence of the entire building, as well as the compound’s earthier but still quite majestic mosque, lavish gardens, and stately main gate. A fresh and artful look at one of the wonders of the world.“
– Booklist

„The breadth of Elbaum’s knowledge… marks this book as an absolutely first-rate work of political scholarship.“
– Village Voice

„It should be required reading for those interested in the modern history of social movements and for radicals of my generation who are trying to find out what went wrong.“
– |Los Angeles Times

„If you still believe sixties radicalism was nothing more than youthful middle-class confusion or parochial identity politics, then open these pages and dig.“
– Robin D. G. Kelley

„Truly a superb work of scholarship that raises all the right questions…“
– Radical History