It was the autumn of 1619. The days were clear and cool, perfect for travel. The royals had returned from western India some months prior. After her hectic travels and constant imperial engagements, ...

Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan. By Ruby Lal. W.W. Norton & Company; 336 pages; $27.95 and £19.99. THAT India’s Mughal emperors could be devoted to their queens is no surprise. The Taj ...

Why is Christian Science in our name? Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and we’ve always been transparent about that. The church publishes the ...

Molly Crabapple's illustration of Nur Jahan coming out on the imperial balcony, published in 'Tiger Slayer' - historian Ruby Lal's YA adaptation of her 2018 book 'Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur ...

This is a creative image depicting a detail from “The Passing of Shahjahan” by Abanindranath Tagore, c1903, at the centre while along the borders are details from the portraits of women of Nur Jahan, ...

The grasping consort and devious stepmother are stock types as old as time. In Imperial Rome, the poets Horace and Ovid took stepmotherly wickedness for granted, while the historian Tacitus’ grotesque ...

Ruby Lal’s book for children about the icon’s life and legacy in Tiger Slayer, celebrates her exploits within the court and on the battlefield, showcasing her wisdom, courage and strategy in a ...

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