Throne of gold : the lives of the Aga Khans - Hardcover

Edwards, Anne.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0002151960 ISBN 13: 9780002151962

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1995

Synopsis

The story of three generations of the (Aga) Khan dynasty, the spiritual head of the Ismaili Muslims with 20 million followers in India, Pakistan, East Africa and Central Asia. This book concentrates on three members of the Khan dynasty. Firstly, The Aga Khan III, the third heriditary ruler of the Muslim Ismaili Sect who was born to wealth and power in 1887 and who attempted to secure Muslim support for British Rule in India, most notably by founding the All-India Muslim League (1906) of which he was its President. The Aga Khan was a successful horse-owner and a friend of the Queen Mary, and became President of the League of Nations. Secondly, the book deals with Prince Aly Khan, the soldier, diplomat and playboy. His second wife was Rita Hayworth, but he had many other affairs and was killed in a car crash in 1960. Third and finally, the book deals with Prince Kharin, Aga Khan IV, who married a British fashion model, Lady Sarah Crichton-Stuart, in 1969.

About this title

Review

The Aga Khans have reigned as one of the 20th century's most extravagant lineages. The family--descendeds from Mohammed--owns homes and horse stables all over the world, and sits as the spiritual head of a sect of 15 million Muslims. Anne Edwards tells the Aga Khans story by focusing on three generations--the current Aga Khan, his father and his grandfather. These are men who lives are those of fairy tales. They live in lavish surroundings, are notorious in their pursuit of women and throw outrageous parties. Ripe material for a biography, and Edwards delivers it well.

From Publishers Weekly

For engrossing gossip about the really rich and famous, here's the scoop on the third-richest man in the world, the late Aga Khan III, descendant of Muhammad and spiritual leader of the Muslim Ismailis from the reign of Victoria to beyond WWII. His fabled wealth derived not from the pursuits of ordinary robber barons but from the generous tributes of his millions of followers. Twice in his lifetime, in a legendary ceremony, they matched his hefty weight with gold. Although he committed much of his wealth to bettering their lives through education, housing and health care, enough remained to support his own fabulous lifestyle, which included wives, mistresses, offspring and champion horses. Sincerely devout, he spent an hour every day in meditation and study of the Koran. He despaired of his playboy son Aly Khan, husband of Rita Hayworth, and he never married or divorced without observing Muslim precepts. A devoted Anglophile, he used his influence to keep the British in India as long as he could. Edwards (Sonya: The Life of Countess Tolstoy) sets this account against the great world events in which his wealth and influence played significant parts. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0002151960
• ISBN 13: 9780002151962
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 352