Empress

Historian Ruby Lal extracts the real life of seventeenth-century Mughal (Mongul) Empress Nur Jahan from legend, romanticized tales, and political erasure in this engaging audiobook. Suzanne Toren ably narrates Lal's well-researched account of the Indian cosovereign's life--from her birth to aristocratic Persian parents to her short-lived first marriage and life as the twentieth wife of Emperor Jahangir. Toren's sure tone reflects Nur Jahan's roles as a leader, woman, and first-generation immigrant. As Nur Jahan's story unfolds, Lal contextualizes her impressive achievements within the cultural norms and political environment of the period. Toren differentiates quoted passages from the author's insights with vocal modulation and light characterization. Nur Jahan was once relegated to a romantic heroine. Here, Lal's scholarship and Toren's narration illuminate the full expanse and lasting impact of the Empress's brief reign. J.R.T. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine