Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Setting
Agra/Hindustan/Mughal Empire in the Mid-1600sIt's clear while Jahanara is relating her tale to her granddaughters that even though she had been living in self-imposed exile from Hindustan for many...
What's Up With the Title?
Beneath a Marble Sky. It's a pretty title, is it not? The Taj Mahal—which the book is about—is, of course, made of white marble. Cool, cool.But what's up with a marble sky?Well, the Taj Mahal i...
What's Up With the Epigraph?
The minute I heard my first love story,I started looking for you, not knowinghow blind that was.Lovers don't finally meet somewhere,they're in each other all along.—RumiWhat's up with the epigrap...
What's Up With the Ending?
John Shors chose to end his book like he began it, by quoting poetry: You know, Shah Jahan, life and youth, wealth and glory,they all drift away in the current of time.You strove, therefore, to per...
Tough-o-Meter
(5) Tree LineJohn Shors set out to write a book as grandiose and majestic as the edifice whose story it tells, but his poetic style and the length of the tome aren't what make this one difficult. N...