Architecture of Mughal India (The New Cambridge History of India, Vol. 1.4) [Hardcover]

Catherine B. Asher (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521267285 | ISBN-13: 978-0521267281 | Publication Date: September 25, 1992

This book traces the development and spread of architecture under the Mughal emperors. Professor Asher considers the entire scope of architecture built under the auspices of the imperial Mughals and their subjects. She looks in particular at the role of political and cultural ideology, the relationship between construction in the major cities and in the provinces and the continuing Mughal fascination with paradisical imagery that culminated in the construction of the Taj Mahal.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...it promises to engage both the academic and the interested layman....Superbly detailed yet readable, the book places the evolution of Mughal architecture in the context of political and cultural change and ideology....Illustrated with more than 200 fine quality plates, the book is a must..." India Today

"...Asher's treatment of the technical aspects of architectural styles, imperial and provincial, is impeccable...." B. G. Gokhale, Choice

"To present these foundations and the wealth of Mughal architecture (both before and after the Taj Mahal) is a formidable task, and those interested in architecture in both India and Islam owe a debt of gratitude to Catherine B. Asher for her book....Architecture of Mughal India is a remarkable achievement, brilliantly demonstrating that Mughal monuments, patronage, and aesthetic developments are every bit as diverse and impressive as their counterparts in 16th through 19th century Europe. Asher has essentially redefined a field and has done so in a way that will make her book a basic resource for generations of scholars." Anthony Welch, Design Book Review

"Her impressively thorough account of Mughal architecture is the fullest to date and will remain a standard reference work. Its strength lies in balancing a discussion of the best-known Mughal monuments with original accounts of patronage at the subimperial level and of previously neglected provincial buildings, in eastern India and elsewhere." Times Literary Supplement

"Asher writes lucidly and with the confidence of one who has had a long friendship with Mughal architecture, is familiar with the broad traits that define its character and is aware of the environment that explains its idiosyncracies. The detailed bibliographical essyas for each chapter also show her familiraity with relevant primary and secondary sources." Perween Hasan, MESA Bulletin

Book Description

In Architecture of Mughal India Catherine Asher presents the first comprehensive study of Mughal architectural achievements. The work is lavishly illustrated and will be widely read by students and specialists of South Asian history and architecture as well as by anyone interested in the magnificent buildings of the Mughal empire.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 402 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 25, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521267285
• ISBN-13: 978-0521267281
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,813,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive, thorough work on the topic, June 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Architecture of Mughal India (The New Cambridge History of India, Vol. 1.4) (Hardcover)

Beginning with a brief discussion of the pre-Mughal Islamic kingdoms, Asher moves chronologically through Mughal architecture, including works patronized by the emperors and those patronized by others but directly implicated in Mughal architecture. This is an excellent volume that masterfully straddles the tasks of presenting a survey of this architecture while exploring the most accepted scholarly interpretations of the works. Well written and with good images (Cambridge volumes only include black and white, unfortunately), this is an excellent foundational text for the study of Mughal architecture. I highly recommend it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Invaluable Survey of Mughal Architecture!, December 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Architecture of Mughal India (The New Cambridge History of India, Vol. 1.4) (Hardcover)

This book provides a thorough, detailed, and thoughtful analysis of Mughal architecture; it is based on solid scholarly research, yet it is accessible not only to academics, but also to general readers. While many others who have written on this topic have limited themselves to discussions of architectural style, Catherine Asher's book considers Mughal monuments in their cultural and historical context and examines the socio-political roles of the works and their patrons. This book truly is an invaluable survey of Mughal architecture!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars important reference work, June 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Architecture of Mughal India (The New Cambridge History of India, Vol. 1.4) (Hardcover)

Still the only thorough examination on Mughal architecture out there!