Beneath a Marble Sky - Softcover

John Shors

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0929701976 ISBN 13: 9780929701974

Publisher: McPherson & Company, 2013

Synopsis

In 1632, the Emperor of Hindustan, Shah Jahan, overwhelmed with grief over the death of his beloved wife, Mumatz Mahal, commissioned the building of a grand mausoleum to symbolize the greatness of their love. The story surrounding the construction of the Taj Mahal occurs, however, against a scrim of fratricidal war, murderous rebellion, unimaginable wealth, and, not least of all, religious fundamentalism ruthlessly opposing tolerance and coexistence between the disparate peoples in the empire. At that time, Hindustan comprised all of modern Pakistan and Kashmir, most of eastern Afghanistan, and two-thirds of the Indian subcontinent (roughly north of Bombay to the Himalayas). Beneath a Marble Sky, narrated by Princess Jahanara, eldest daughter of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, recounts their story, and her own as well, a parallel tale of forbidden love enduring censure and extreme deprivations. Beneath a Marble Sky brims with action and intrigue befitting an epic era when, alongside continuous war, architecture and its attendant arts reached a pinnacle of perfection. In a splendid debut, John Shors has crafted an immensely readable and well-researched historical novel of surprisingly contemporary relevance.

About this title

About the Author

John Shors is the bestselling author of Beneath a Marble Sky, Beside a Burning Sea, Dragon House, The Wishing Trees, and Cross Currents. He has won numerous awards for his writing, and his novels have been translated into twenty-six languages. John encourages reader feedback and can be easily reached via his website at johnshors.com.

Review

"Beneath a Marble Sky is a story which literally speaks to you. In his first novel, John Shors brilliantly recounts one of the world’s greatest love stories, narrated against a backdrop of hatred and violence." – India Post

“Jahanara is a beguiling heroine whom readers will come to love; none of today’s chick-lit heroines can match her dignity, fortitude and cunning. Elegant, often lyrical, writing distinguishes this literary fiction from the genre known as historical romance. It is truly a work of art, rare in a debut novel.” – The Des Moines Register

“Shors...creates a vivid and striking world that feels as close as a plane ride. Most important, he manages to convey universal feelings in a tangible and intimate way. Shah Jahan’s grief isn’t just that of a man who lived centuries ago; it’s a well of emotion felt long before Mumatz Mahal ever lived, and is still felt today. Shors’s ability to tap into that well, and make it so alive, renders the novel as luminous a jewel as any that adorn the Taj Mahal’s walls.” – ForeWord Magazine

“Evocative of the fantastical stories and sensual descriptions of One Thousand and One Nights, Beneath a Marble Sky is the story of Jahanara, the daughter of the 17th century Mughal emperor who built India’s Taj Mahal. What sets this novel apart is its description of Muslim-Hindu politics, which continue to plague the subcontinent today.”  – National Geographic Traveler

“This novel skillfully delves into Eastern aristocracy, culture and religion. The story is told in ‘Titanic’ fashion by Jahanara, the eldest daughter of the emperor who built the Taj Mahal... Shors enthralls with his first novel, based on an age-old Asian love story. Those familiar with Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth will find strong correlations between the novels. This is a page-turner.” – Romantic Times

Edition details

• Publisher: McPherson & Company
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0929701976
• ISBN 13: 9780929701974
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 336