TAJ MAHAL Passion and Genius at the Heart of the Moghul Empire

New York, New York, April 2007 Join Diana and Michael Preston at TamarindArt on Thursday, May 3, when they will speak on their new book which chronicles the history of the Taj Mahal and its builders. This is your chance to acquire your own personalized copy of Taj Mahal Passion and Genius at the Heart of the Moughul Empire, Published by Walker and Company.

Constructed of a luminescent marble that makes the building shimmer and change color even on the most overcast days, the Taj Mahal is more than just a wonder or World Heritage Site. It is a love story, a devotional shrine, an emblem of a mighty empire, and a masterpiece of design—all of which is beautifully chronicled in Diana and Michael Preston’s new history. Built between 1631 and 1654 as a memorial to the beloved wife of Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal epitomized the splendor and power of the Moghul Empire at its height. Over 20,000 laborers contributed to its completion including the greatest craftsmen, engineers, and artisans of the day. Precious marble, jade, crystal, turquoise, and sapphire from all over Asia helped comprise its materials. At the cost of 50 million rupees (half a billion dollars by today’s estimates), it remains India’s most popular destination attracting several million tourists each year.


In TAJ MAHAL Diana (winner of last year’s Los Angeles Times book award for Before the Fallout) and Michael Preston give a far richer portrait of the memorial, one that casts the building in the long shadow of the Moghul Empire that stretched beyond much of India to present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bengal. The battles and the dynastic rivalries of Moghul history served as the foundation for the Taj Mahal. Its completion marked the beginning of the empire’s demise.

Cocktail reception 6 to 7pm Author talk will begin at 7pm followed by a question and answer session. 3 March 2007 rsvp - rsvp@tamarindart.com

For more information on this exhibition please contact TamarindArt Gallery at (212) 990 – 9000 ext. 105.

Diana and Michael Preston are Oxford-trained historians who live in London, England. Diana is the author of A First Rate Tragedy, The Boxer Rebellion, Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy, and Before the Fallout: From Marie Curie to Hiroshima, which won the 2006 Los Angeles Times Award for Science and Technology. She and Michael Preston coauthored A Pirate of Exquisite Mind, a biography of the great seventeenth-century adventurer, William Dampier.


About TamarindArt

TamarindArt is dedicated to the arts. As a gallery specializing in the contemporary Indian art in New York City we curate a wide variety of art exhibitions from contemporary masters of Indian art to cutting edge installation artists and everything in between. As part of our on-going effort, we support other art museums and cultural communities around the world. We host other events as well, including book readings and signings, and we have become a nexus for many art organizations. Check out website for more information and programs. www.tamarindart.com

www.tamarindart.com
Tel. 212-990-9000 ext. 105
e-mail: press@tamarindart.com