Taj Mahal [Hardcover]

Amina Okada (Author), Mohan C. Joshi (Author), Jean-Louis Nou (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 19, 1993

Built between 1632 and 1643 by the Mughal Emperor Shah jahan in honour of his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is unquestionably the most renowned mausoleum in the world. Now this legendary monument to love can be seen as never seen before. On the pages of this beautifully illustrated volume, the Taj Mahal is revealed in minute detail. Starting inside the mausoleum, a sequence of close-ups shows the semiprecious stones inlaid in white marble that form the Qur'anic calligraphy and floral patterns. Further images present the octagonal plan of the structure, emphasising both its perfect symmetry and its subtle variations. The final sequence is devoted to the decorative patterns carved in the walls of the mosque and entrance gate. Quotations from the Qur'an and from the journals of travellers such as Jean-Baptists Tavernier, Pierre Loti, and Aldous Huxley complete a breathtaking tribute. Amina Okada, curator of the Musee National des Arts Asiatiques Guimet in Paris, is the author of numerous books and articles on Mughal India. Dr M C joshi is director of the Archeological Survey of India in New Delhi. Before his death in 1992, photographer Jean-Louis Nou captured the beauty of India in many books including The Art of India.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The construction of the world's most splendid mausoleum, the Taj Mahal, is surrounded by a haze of romanticized legends. Did the powerful seventeenth-century Mughal emperor Shah Jahan build this filigreed marvel of white marble, gems, and semiprecious stones purely out of grief over the loss of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to her fourteenth child, or was he "vaunting his grandeur and munificence to the world"? While master photographer Nou celebrates the exquisite artistry of the structure's stone marquetry, authors Amina Okada, an expert on Mughal and Rajput India, and M.C. Joshi, director of the Archaeological Survey of India, contemplate the motives behind the Taj Mahal's erection and discuss its remarkable design. The most astonishing of Nou's photographs are close-ups of the floral inlays that run riot in the mausoleum's luminous and arabesque interior. Every surface is alive with the grace of flowers and the animated strokes of Qur'anic calligraphy. Nou's impressive exterior shots display the opulence of the entire building, as well as the compound's earthier but still quite majestic mosque, lavish gardens, and stately main gate. A fresh and artful look at one of the wonders of the world. Donna Seaman

Review

"...the glorious filigreed stonework and calligraphic mosaics are freshly jeweled by Jean-Louis Nou." -- The San Diego Union-Tribune

"Every surface is alive with the grace of flowers and the animated strokes of Qur’anic calligraphy." -- Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press (October 19, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558596178
• ISBN-13: 978-1558596177
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 10.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #525,684 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Beautiful!, April 8, 2000

By 

Jody Palm "bookgoddess" (Greeneville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Taj Mahal (Hardcover)

What a beautiful book! One might just write it off as a nice coffe-table book, but I feel it's much more.

In addition to simply gorgeous photography, including detail and up-close shots of the incredible inlays, there is very nice text that tells the whole story of the buildings.

Translations of the quotes from the Qu'ran that cover the buildings and the tombs are also included and they are very poetically rendered.

This book is exactly what I was looking for. It shows the Taj at it's very best and in full color. I continually enjoy looking at the book, and am inspired by the designs. I highly recommend the book to anyone who loves design and inlay.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Taj Mahal, January 11, 2007

By 

Kathleen Parkinson (London, England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Taj Mahal (Hardcover)

Following my recent visit to India I purched the book Taj Mahal as a permanent reminder of this magnificent building. The photographs in the book are of a very high standard and have been taken when there is an absence of visitors - a level the average sightseer can never achieve. The special lighting and techniques used for the internal photography makes you feel as though you are actually there. Added to this there is a very informative narrative on the history of and how the Taj Mahal was built. It is certainly a wonderful memento and am sure it will whet the appetite of future visitors.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting !, September 23, 2002

By 

Recipedelights-dot-com-chef (San Francisco, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Taj Mahal (Hardcover)

This famous monument of love has been a favorite of tourists especially romantics, for many generations now. Visitors from all over the world are drawn to its irresistible charm, beauty and grandeur.

This book, dedicated to the most famous man-made wonder, slowly reveals its glorious detail. Color close-ups of semi-precious stones inlaid in white marble, intricate carvings, decorative patterns, and calligraphy enchant the readers. These artistically taken pictures draw the reader's attention to detail that a regular tourist may have easily missed during visit to the Taj. In fact these pictures are such fine quality and detail as to distract the reader from the well-written text that accompanies them. Every time you pick up this book, you are likely to notice something new, some other fine detail that you missed the last time. We, at Recipedelights.com, think this book is a must-see-and-must-read for designers, artists, armchair tourists, tourists planning to visit Taj and even those who have already visited it.