"Wheeler Thackston's new translation of The Jahangirnama, copublished with the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, presents a portrait of a remarkable emperor during the course of his reign (1605-27)." "Emperor Jahangir is probably best known in the West as the father of Shahjahan, who built the Taj Mahal. Jahangir's reign was one of great prosperity, and his passion for art and nature encouraged an artistic flowering that rivaled European art during the rule of the Medicis. Jahangir's memoirs provide not only the history of his reign, but also his reflections on art, politics, and life, including the suicide of one of his wives, and selections of poetry written by members of his harem. This book includes a selection of exquisite full-color paintings, drawings, and objects that specifically illustrate the passages they accompany."--Jacket.