Beneath a Marble Sky

Written by John Shors

Narrated by Mozhan Marno

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781490604220

Reviews for Beneath a Marble Sky

[Ellen Whiteside · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great Book to listen to. I just got back from visiting India and it brought it back to life for me.

[zeek319_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I picked up Beneath A Marble Sky because of the cover. I'm so glad I did. BAMS is a near perfect story. Love, hate, betrayal, intrigue, duty, honor, played out against the magnificent backdrop of Agra, India, the city of the Taj Mahal, - I fell in love with this story from page one.Told in first person from Jahanara's point of view, I must confess to being pleasantly surprised that a male author could write a female character so well.Perhaps that's a bit strong. What I mean is that Shors does an excellent job of making Jahanara- the central focus of the story- come to life. Her thoughts and motives were totally believable, and that's just not something I often feel is expressed well when a main female character is written by a man- especially when the entire story is from her POV.Jahanara is a wonderful heroine. She is wise, intelligent, fearless, loyal and noble- and based on the real-life Daughter of the Emperor. Her story is woven into the tale of the building of the Taj Mahal, the grand Mausoleum built out of her father's love for her mother.Things are not perfect for her; her arranged marriage to her burtish husband is a sham, and her power hungry brother is down right nasty. Things happen to her that make you want to scream, but, through her keen intelligence, she always manages to find a measure of revenge- no matter how hollow it feels in the end. And. She finds beauty and love in the darkest of places.I feel the author does an excellent job of weaving fiction into actual historical events- and I came away learning something in the process. Yet the epic feel of it left you with no doubt you were reading fiction. (In fact, if it was longer and more overwrought, I'd put this up there with the novels that became TV mini series back in the day- think Thornbirds and Shogun!)If you like historical fiction, especially historical fiction set in exotic locales, then this book is for you!

[janerawoof · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Glimpse into the 17th century world of Mughal India. Not sure how much of the history is really authentic, and disliked the overwrought love stories--of a princess and the architect of the Taj Mahal and also another -- of her best friend, a Hindu and a eunuch. I was captivated by the descriptions of building the Taj Mahal--actually a mausoleum commissioned by Shah Jehan for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. There was much sibling rivalry/hatred between the scholar brother, the heir-designate Dara, and his warrior brother, Aurangzeb but also loyalty among the princess, Jahanara, and her best friend, a Hindu, and her guardian, Nizam, the eunuch. The story is told in installments to Jahanara's granddaughters, with emphasis on the building of the Taj Mahal, family and kingdom strife, and romance. Interesting for its portrayal of this exotic location. Ending was too pat.

[jguidry-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the description of the life of Jahanara. She is the beloved daughter of an emperor who has more freedom than most women of her time. This allows her to tell stories we might not have had access to otherwise. Shors gives a beautiful description of the Taj Mahal and gives a vivid description of life in the harem. I loved the political intrigue and even enjoyed the love story (it's not normally my thing).

[micalhut · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed this book greatly. It transported me entirely to a different time and culture and was enjoyably easy to read and get lost in the story, passion and drama.

[busyreadin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good romance/historical fiction. I don't know how historically accurate it is, but the description of the planning/building of the Taj Mahal was really interesting. Would like to have seen (from a distance, lol) one of the battles with the 2 thousand fighting elephants.

[kimjd_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beautifully written love story that really brings to life 17th-century India and the royal family responsible for the creation of the Taj Mahal. I probably would never have read it if it hadn't been my book club's pick for this month-- yet another reason I enjoy our monthly get-togethers (and the wine and snacks don't hurt either!)

[ldvoorberg · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Predictable, artificial dialogue, just a typical love/romance story working off the Taj Mahal as a gimmick. Take a pass unless the above is your thing.

[mawls · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

this is a fast, enjoyable read. it has a lot of suspense, the ending is tied up neatly and yet it's more than just a love story (as it is subtitled on the book) admittedly, that is what caught my attention, but it really is also intertwined with war, jealousy, maliciousness and those who listen to their gut whether it takes them to a good or bad place.

[kcoleman428 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a fabulous novel!! Love, Loyalty, Treachery, Beauty...all the things that make for an engrossing read!

[grannynanny_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found this book to be very interesting. I didn't know that much about the Taj Mahal prior to reading it. This was the first novel written about the Taj Mahal and the author did an excellent job. The characters seem very real and I found the book hard to put down. I couldn't wait to find out how it would end. There were a lot of surprises and one of the characters did not get what you hoped he would. I highly recommend reading it!

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the things I liked best about this book was the introduction to a time period and place I know next to nothing about. Mr. Shors succeeds in creating a lush setting and an interesting story about the raising of the Taj Mahal. He creates tension through animosity between siblings and thwarted love. My biggest complaint about the story is that the people themselves weren't believable. The good characters were too good and the bad characters had no redeeming value. It made the story feel like a fairy tale rather than a true story of real people.

[laurenbdavis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is an enjoyable book, essentially a commercial-fiction love story in an exotic setting. If read from that point of view it's lots of fun, with enough intrigue, romance, and suspense to keep one turning the pages. John Shors knows how to pace a book and his writing is fine, with lots of lovely descriptions. However, don't expect much historical accuracy here. Read it as a sort of epic fantasy, based VERY loosely on historical facts.

[kaebs · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As I visited the Taj Mahal a few years ago and was blown away by its beauty, I was really looking forward to reading this book. I was not disappointed. The book takes the reader back to a time of emperors and princesses in India. A rare story setting. It incorporates historical facts with a fictional love story. The reader is taken on a journey through Princess Jahanara's life, and in only 344 pages the author managed to create an epic tale. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but had to reduce my star rating slightly as I found the writing almost a bit simple.

[lexxa83 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book. Sometimes I find that historic fiction tends to drag, however this book moved quickly and brought the reader's imagination along with it. I also liked that there was discussion about the lives of the characters after the main events took place. I always love when novels tie up loose ends so you aren't wondering what happened next. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves both romance and historic fiction.

[bookworm12_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set during the 17th century, Shors' novel tells the story of the heartbroken emperor who has the Taj Mahal built in memory of his deceased wife. His brave daughter Jahanara tells the story of their family, which includes her love affair with the Taj Mahal's brilliant architect, Isa. It also discusses the family rivalries between her scholarly oldest brother and her power-hungry, evil brother. I might not have ever picked it up if my book club hadn't chosen it. I knew very little about the building of the Taj Mahal before reading it and was fascinated to learn about the culture and traditions of the people responsible for the beautiful building. There are moments that feel melodramatic, but at the same time, the stakes are high. I liked that the novel spans such a long period of time. Jahanara and Isa's love has to withstand years of turbulent challenges, which strengthens it and proves it's not a fling. I loved the character of Jahanara, though I was occasionally frustrated by the choices she made. Regardless of the decisions she made, she still showed a courage that is admirable, especially considering the times. Her dear friend and companion, a eunuch, was another wonderful character. He is loyal to the end, showing an unbelievable devotion. The book tackles the building of an icon, a love affair, persecution of women, religious fanaticism and family feuds, which is a lot for a novel. Shors doesn't over reach his ability though and the book is a fast-paced read. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoy historical fiction with a great story.

[silva_44 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this book. I was completely amazed by the descriptions of the Taj Mahal, and the rich history behind its flawless marble. The characters were breathtakingly complex, and so real. Fantastic novel.

[amandacb_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ever since reading [The Twentieth Wife] and [The Feast of Roses], I was destined to read Shores's book [Beneath a Marble Sky]. While I felt the aforementioned novels were far above BAMS in terms of style and story, BAMS is nothing to store on a bookshelf and never look at again. The story of the construction of the Taj Mahal is thrilling, fascinating, and heartbreaking.

[grnpickle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book from start to finish. The characters were very easy to love (and hate). I was sad when it was over.

[sarahinflorida · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I so want to visit the Taj Mahal after reading this novel!

[loisbookfinder · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A brilliant, beautiful novel about the building of the Taj Mahal. Highly recommended.

[vernefan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

*An Evocative and Intoxicating Debut*If there was a 12 star rating, I'd give it that and then some. This debut deserves all the stars in the heavens and more. Truly this is a wonderful, evocative tale of the wonderous building of one of the world's most crowning architectural achievements. I learned so much while reading this book, the history of India and it's culture, of it's people and their beliefs, and learned so much about the Taj Mahal that I never realized or knew before. The author should be highly proud of this first achievement, his writing is so beautiful and full of talent. Each word, each phrase, like poetry and I found myself reading passages over and over they were so well crafted. I really felt I was there in India, I could smell the spices, feel the desert sand, hear the jingling bells on the feet of sari swathed beautiful women, one can feel the cool smooth marble that built the majestic tomb that hold the Emperor's wife. Never have I read such a magnificent historical novel that left me mesmerized and telling all my friends to go buy a copy. Don't miss this story, you won't forget it for a long time.

[lioness31 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this book you will find unshakable love, loyalty, sadness, and betrayal. It is a fascinating read, I have heard about the story behind the meaning of the Taj Mahal and its incredibly romantic.I found myself totally immersed in this novel, i followed Jahanara's footsteps from a young princess into a brave and daring woman. Her wit and brilliance clearly made her one of my favorite characters. I recommend this book to those who like historical/fictional stories.

[knitbusy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have long been fascinated by the Taj Mahal. It is truly an architectural marvel, and I dream of visiting it one day. Beneath a Marble Sky is fiction, so I am unsure of how much of its depiction of either the construction of the Taj Mahal or Indian culture is authentic, but the book did increase my admiration for this amazing building. Also, it is just a really good book!Beneath a Marble Sky is a love story, as well as a family saga. The story is told by Princess Jahanara, my favorite kind of heroine, a feisty and brave beauty who is anything but content to be simply an ornament. After the death of her beautiful mother, Jahanara's father commissions the creation of the Taj Mahal to honor her memory and comfort his broken heart. While Jahanara finds love unexpectedly with the architect of the Taj Mahal, her brothers Dara and Aurangzeb begin to tear the country apart as the religious tensions of Muslim and Hindu begin to escalate. Jahanara is forced to choose sides, and soon finds herself facing not only imprisonment, but death as she seeks to save those who are dearest to her.I really enjoyed this book. It is full of action, unexpected plot twists, court intrigue, and some romantic moments. While I loved Jahanara's strong character, for me it was also at times a weak point in the novel, as I found myself wondering if her actions were plausible in her time and culture. Eventually, I decided I didn't care as the book would have been less enjoyable without her. I also appreciated that the romantic scenes are more innuendo than outright description. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is both a fun and interesting read.

[ruinedbyreading · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you enjoyed The Twentieth Wife or The Feast of Roses, you’ll love Beneath a Marble Sky.There was plenty of sorrow, death, horror and action packed into the book, but in the end everything turned out okay for the most favorite characters. What I find interesting is that the reality of Mughal court life was much more scheming and full of more backstabbing and plotting than most fictional books can come up with, this book included. Keep in mind that the only things really factual about this book is that these people existed. That’s about it. In reality, Jahanara, as a Mughal princess, was not allowed to get married. So her terribly abusive, fictional husband never existed. If you’re into romance or historical fiction, you should give it a try. It’s definitely a page turner and a fast read

[scarpettajunkie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story is about Princess Jahanara, Isa the architect, the emporor and his wife and finally how the emperor's children bring down an empire. The theme overriding all these people and their stories is love. We discover why the Taj Majhal was built. We are taken into 17th century Hindustan for the battle and horror of war. The action is fast paced, the descriptions are accurate, I could smell the spices in the marketplace and feel the sand in my throat when they traveled on horseback.. It is a love story while being so much more. This story gets the big thumbs up.

[kerinlo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book to a point. The characters are interesting and the history behind the story is compelling, but somewhere about halfway through the I lost interest in the outcome. I finished the book and am glad I did because the ending helps save the story some, but I couldn't help feeling disappointed at the end, like I'd missed something.

[jules72653 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! I almost avoided this book because it was historical fiction, but I am so glad I dug into it. The amount of detail Shors used bordered on excessive, however, it did paint a very graphic picture of the era. I relished it for the love story which was delivered beautifully and woven seamlessly with the plot line.

[pjhess · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent read

[punxsygal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In 17th century Hindustan a grieving husband commisions to have built a grand mausoleum for his beloved wife. Times were tense. Hindustan was inhabited by Hindus, but ruled by Muslims. Wars were waged with Persians. And treachery was everywhere in the court. The tale is told through the voice of the daughter, Princess Jahanara. And she tells of her forbidden love for the architect, Isa. The building, the Taj Mahal, truly one of the most beautiful in the world.