THE Mughals were a Muslim dynasty from the early 16th century to the middle of the 19th. At their height they ruled most of India.

A beautifully written work, the key to the author's approach is revealed in a somewhat quirky preface when he says that he has dealt at great length with the everyday life of the people as well as their rulers because his objective is to portray life rather than merely to chronicle history.

The pages are packed with human drama and fascinating characters and give a revealing insight into the history and culture of an empire the British brought to an end as we built our own.

Updated: 09:36 Wednesday, April 28, 2004