Where the Princess Shoots Tigers and Kicks Ass

Nur Mahal by Harold Lamb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A 1930s historical novel set in Mughal India, this book focuses on a Persian princess who became the power behind the throne. I enjoyed it and found it an exciting read. The author does a good job, especially for the time, of presenting a south Asian society in all its complexity, with leaders and populations from all over (present-day) India and Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Persia, along with the ruling Turco-Mongol descendants of Timur and his people.

Following Nur Mahal (or Noor Jahan, as she is also known), the Padishah's wife, we experience the events of the story mostly from the perspective of the harem. Normally, this would be very limiting, but she is special in the novel as well as real life. The princess pushed the boundaries to participate in the wider world. She was a rider and hunter, famously able to take down tigers, and she managed to emerge from the harem, contrary to custom, to assist her husband, advise him, and even take over much of the governing. This exposed her (and him) to censure on the one hand but grudging respect all the same, making her an early example of the kind of strong female character that has been much sought after in recent years in publishing.

In the novel, we see her as able and courageous, willing to take risks to promote her husband's interests and the interests of the empire, attracting and retaining able generals, putting down rebellions, and winning the hearts of the people. (One scene, where her husband has been taken prisoner while traveling with the court and she leads a charge across a river on her battle elephant is wonderful and entirely believable.) Her husband, though curious, intelligent, and physically able except for asthma, is still not an able leader, neither creative nor energetic, and she realizes she could have done so much more with someone like Mahabat Khan or another of those active and forceful men who eventually rebelled against him. His enemies recognize that he held the throne for as long as he did mainly through her efforts--all of which is, apparently, historical fact, though mostly suppressed in the histories of the time.

Harold Lamb is a surprising writer, coming as he does out of the early part of the 20th Century, in the way he demonstrates a vast understanding of the history of Central Asia and the way he (almost always) deals with the various religions and cultures in a sensitive and respectful way. There are a few sour notes, but the overall feeling is one of appreciation and respect.

So, 90 years after its publication, I'd say Nur Mahal (both book and princess) holds up. She makes an interesting and rather modern protagonist, impressive both for her will and her ability. And between the court intrigue and various wars, the action is fast-paced and entertaining. Just as important, the historical accuracy and the vibrant depiction of a multi-ethnic state is impressive, and for me an education. (According to Wikipedia, writers like Robert E. Howard, Gardner Fox, Ben Bova, and others were influenced by his writing. That makes perfect sense.)

Recommended for readers of historical fiction.

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