Empire of Mughals is a 5 series book(till date) written by Alex Rutherford
The 5 series Book titles are the following
Raiders from the North
Brothers at War
Ruler of the World
Tainted Throne
The Serpent's Tooth
Raiders from the North Synopsis
The first book is good and tells the life of Babur who lost his father at age of 11 and went through many defeats and betrayals etc before he decided to come and conquer India. If you thought Akbar was highly influenced by women of his household please read this book to know that his grand father too was greatly influenced by women of his household whether his grand mom, mother or elder sister. This book is good but it is more from a westerner point of view a neutral view we can tell but majority events are borrowed from babur nama and few missing gaps are filled by the writers imagination. The one thing you appreciate after reading this book is Babur's never say die attitude despite defeats after defeats for years and never giving up. It also has an excellent brother-sister story of Babur-Khanzada woven into it where a sister sacrifices herself to the enemy Shibhani Khan- the Uzbeg Lord to save Babur's life after defeat in war and a brother who never rests in peace for decades and attempts to free his sister again and again. Its not only a story of war, treachery, politics etc but a story of a young family torn apart by circumstances. You also start realizing the characters of his children too Humayun the obedient and soft hearted, Hindal led by other brothers words, Askari always following elder brother Kamran blindly etc.
I would rate this story above Akbar's in the third book just because the kind of life history of Babur is comparable may be only to Ghenghis Khan's life in terms of tragedy. Also Babur's life is a tale of luck which you will realize when you read the book.
The major problem of this book is its one dimensional usually from Babur's viewpoint. His mother, sister, shibhani Khan etc although major players their viewpoints are not provided. We do not know what is happening in their minds or why they behave in certain ways.
My suggestion is read the book but buy "Baburnama" or download it from online and read it too.
Brothers at War
The second book starts with Humayun who becomes a King at a young age of 22. He not only has to protect the Mughal empire his father founded but has to try to accomadate his 3 younger brothers who seem to hate him from childhood. But its not factually correct many historical facts are tinkered with and it is much more fictional than the first book. So if you read this book and think this is the real history you may get it wrong in many places. Humayun's life teaches a reader many things that a human must avoid to be safe especially an emperor first not to be emotionally bonded to family and friends, not to take gratitude from those you helped for granted etc. Humayun's character is more fit for a common man of religion etc who easily forgive and trust family, friends etc not for an emperor of a vast kingdom. Because as an emperor you cannot give into emotions and not see the greater good of your kingdom as a whole. Humayun never forgets the promise he made to his father Babur that he will forgive his brothers no matter what the provocation and keeps doing that again and again till finally they get together and betray him to Sher Shah.
Then the flight from one place to another told heart wrenchingly the tragedies that occur in flight, Akbar snatched from his parents, the wars, the defeats, the grave compromises Humayun has to make to free Akbar like converting his sect etc. Akbar was one lucky son for getting such a good father-mother its a rarity you see in 16th century. Many other father's would have said let me marry many other woman have more sons why risk so much for one son lets search new kingdoms and pastures but not Humayun. I am not sure if real Akbar had grudge on parents for abondoning him in Kabul but just the sheer determination of Humayun to go to any length to free Akbar should make any son forgive his parents and feel proud of them.
Hindal Mirza has a large part to play in this book including rescuing Akbar from the Kabul fort where he is an hostage with Maham anga, Adham Khan and his sister Bakshi Bano. Also a teenage love story between 17 year old Hindal Mirza-Hamida Bano and Humayun the villan who marries her. That is the only time i found a 32 year old Humayun acting like a normal lay man falling head over heels for a 13 year old Hamida. But like i said the story has many historical errors and suggest you to read "Humayun nama".
This book is like a hindi movie story love, action, drama, romance etc
Ruler of the World
Ruler of World is about Akbar and teenage Salim too. This third book in series is confusing and messed up because the story is of Akbar but the author focusses more on Salim. It was better if author had focussed on Akbar's struggle to build an empire, even Bairam Khan and Maham anga take back seeat here. But the story seems to break now and then and does not go in a flow and too many historical errors. Why does Akbar treat Salim with suspicion because the sufi saint chisti tells him "beware of your sons"? So from childhood Akbar is beware of Salim and tries to think of other motives for his childish actions till Salim starts getting hints of his father's suspicion and the bond of trust breaks between father and son. Salim puts the square blame on Abul Fazl his fathers friend and advisor for his messed relation with father.
Then there is Hira, Akbar's wife and Salim's mom. She hates Akbar very much and that hatred also shows in how she speaks/treats Salim. Indeed poor Salim looks like a 21st century ignored rich child father always busy in work not giving him time and avoiding him and mom always speaking against father. He is caught between his father's muslim upbringin and Jodha taunting him for not upholding Rajputhi traditions. Salim is a confused child/soul between these two. Add to that Abul Fazl who has no work but to taunt Salim or tell Akbar against giving him power and work. So this is one messed up super rich family where child is totally ignored. Salim as an adult finds solace in his milk brother and in childhood in company of his younger brothers. Even Anarkali episode is there but again botched up version you want it to get over fast and move forward. Salim is even banished from house by Akbar and lands up in Kabul where he meets Meherunissa. Salim's revolt is not that finely hetched and it looks like a teenager rebelling against parents authority(which was truly what Jehangir's revolt was in history too). Before long Salim starts missing agra and family and runs back to Akbar's lap in agra fort.
But by that time his family life is in a mess his wives do not need him and have learned to live without his presence, children are more close to Akbar who is like a father to them. And his wife Jodha is up in arms against Ruqaiah who she feels has snatched her only child Khurram from her. Add to that Ruqaiah is dominating and insecure allows only supervised visits for Salim and Jodha to Khurram where maids, soldiers are at gaurd that too in her palace not theirs. Another messed up family like Hira-Akbar-Salim is Salim-Jodha-Khurram. But your sympathies go to the three of them as they try to forge bonds of a family in these 2-3 hour visits a week. Khurram as a child is confused why two adults come to meet him every week and why the lady keeps crying when she sees him or when he tries to wriggle free of her. So this theme should have been developed more properly to know the psychic of Shah Jahan later on as he turns ruthless.
This book is confusing and is more of father-son relationship than Akbar's life. Factually not correct many times and it swings to extremes. Just read it to continue to next book. Akbar's other children, wives, navratnas, his life etc everthing is omitted
Part4 and 5 synopisis next Page
Edited by myviewprem - 12 years ago
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