Product Description

Giles Tillotson tells us the human drama behind the building, particularity the relationship between Shaj Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who lie there. He explores its reputation as a Wonder of the World over 400 years and its representation in art, and analyses the secrets of its architectural success. He concludes with the troubled story of conservation, first by Lord Curzon, and records recent disputes about its ownership, treatment and exploitation. But, whatever else, there is no doubt that the Taj holds a secure place in the worldÂ’s collective consciousness.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #453513 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Review
"'Let those who schoff at overmuch enthusiasm look at the Taj and thenceforward be dumb' - Kipling"

From the Inside Flap
‘Let those who scoff at overmuch enthusiasm look at the Taj and thenceforward be dumb’ – Rudyard Kipling The Taj Mahal is the queen of architecture. Other buildings may be as famous but no other has been so consistently admired for a beauty that is seen as both feminine and regal. Imperial tomb, symbol of India, symbol of love, brand of tea – the Taj can be what you want it to be. Drawing on a huge range of sources from Mughal court histories to Bollywood movies, this superb book gives its history and its many meanings. Giles Tillotson recounts the human drama behind the building, particularly the relationship between Shah Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who lie there. He explores its reputation through history as a Wonder of the World and its representation in art, and analyses the secrets of its architectural success. He concludes with the troubled story of its conservation, first by Lord Curzon, and records recent disputes about its ownership, treatment and exploitation. But, whatever else, there is no doubt that the Taj holds a secure place in the world’s collective consciousness.

From the Back Cover
‘Marble enigma, most photographed of structures, the Taj Mahal lends its name to a prime brand of Indian tea bags and stands too as the world’s great, extravagant monument to eternal love. This wry, brisk book is a delightful and fascinating excavation of the Taj Mahal’s many layers of meanings. Giles Tillotson deploys his formidable knowledge of India’s artistic and cultural history to create a kaleidoscopic interpretation of the Taj – revealing what it meant to the Mughal world that conceived and built it; to the British colonists who cavorted amidst its grounds and minarets, then set about to preserve it; and to the many millions who now come every year to gawp and touch and click. With delicacy, Tillotson unravels the fables and myths incited by this sublime creation, and yet succeeds in keeping its unworldly aura intact.’ Sunil Khilnani