A captivating biography of one of the world’s greatest adventurers, the itinerant Mughal Princess Gulbadan, based on her long-forgotten memoir
Ruby Lal Book order
Ruby Lal is a historian specializing in South Asian history at Emory University. Her work delves into themes of domesticity and power within the early Mughal world, as well as the coming-of-age experiences of girls in 19th-century India. Lal explores how girls' lives were shaped and how playfulness manifested, offering a unique lens into the social and cultural dynamics of the era. Her writing provides profound insights into historical figures and societal structures.
- 2024
- 2018
Empress
- 308 pages
- 11 hours of reading
Four centuries ago, a Muslim woman ruled an empire. Her legend still lives, but her story was lost-until now.
- 2013
Coming of Age in Nineteenth-Century India
- 248 pages
- 9 hours of reading
The book explores the experiences of nineteenth-century Indian women as they navigate the transition from girlhood to adulthood. Ruby Lal delves into their lives, highlighting the cultural and societal changes they faced during this period. Through eloquent storytelling, the author sheds light on the complexities of their identities and the challenges they encountered, providing a nuanced understanding of women's roles in a transforming society.
- 2011
Domesticity and Power in the Early Mughal World
- 260 pages
- 10 hours of reading
Focusing on the role of women in the Mughal court during the sixteenth century, the study challenges conventional views of the haram as merely a space of seclusion and exploitation. Instead, it presents a nuanced portrayal of a society where noble men and women actively engaged in both domestic life and political affairs. By comparing with Ottoman and Safavid histories, the author highlights the complexity and significance of the Mughal haram in shaping imperial dynamics and institutional development.