John Shors

En 1632, Shah Jahan, empereur des Indes, rendu fou de chagrin par la mort en couches de son épouse adorée, Mumtaz Mahal, ordonne la construction d''un gigantesque mausolée en témoignage de son amour : le Taj Mahal. La fille du couple imperial, la princesse Jahanara, est chargee d''assister l''architecte Ustad Isa dans sa tache. Commencent alors pour la jeune femme des annees exaltantes, tandis que sous ses yeux s''eleve un monument en marbre cisele, eblouissant, incruste de pierres precieuses ; des annees dangereuses dans un empire ensanglante par les luttes fratricides entre heritiers du trone ; des annees de passion secrete, aussi. A travers son destin extraordinaire a l''ombre du Taj Mahal, la princesse Jahanara nous entraine dans une envoutante fresque orientale peuplee de palais opulents, de harems decadents, ou s''epanouissent intrigues de cour et liaison interdites.

In his debut, Shors offers a glimpse into the politics and intrigue of the 17th-century court of India during and after the construction of the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for the beloved wife of Mughul emperor Shah Jahan. Told through the eyes of the emperor's daughter, the story contrasts the opulence of the court with the desperate poverty of the citizens; we also see the influence of women on political decisions and the perpetual tensions between religious fundamentalism and tolerance. The book is a thrilling tale of the interactions of characters recognizable for their loyalty, duplicity, and passion and will appeal to a wide audience. The author has included enough accurate details to make regular readers of historical fiction happy, too.

In his international bestseller Beneath a Marble Sky, John Shors wrote about the ancient passion, beauty, and brilliance that inspired the building of the Taj Mahal. Now with Temple of a Thousand Faces, he brings to life the legendary temple of Angkor Wat, an unrivaled marvel of ornately carved towers and stone statues. There, in a story set nearly a thousand years ago, an empire is lost, a royal love is tested, and heroism is reborn.When his land is taken by force, Prince Jayavar of the Khmer people narrowly escapes death at the hands of the conquering Cham king, Indravarman. Exiled from their homeland, he and his mystical wife Ajadevi set up a secret camp in the jungle with the intention of amassing an army bold enough to reclaim their kingdom and free their people. Meanwhile, Indravarman rules with an iron fist, pitting even his most trusted men against each other and quashing any hint of rebellion. Moving from a poor fishermans family whose sons find the courage to take up arms against their oppressors, to a beautiful bride who becomes a prize of war, to an ambitious warrior whose allegiance is torn--Temple of a Thousand Faces is an unforgettable saga of love, betrayal, and survival at any cost.READERS GUIDE INCLUDED

From the author of Beneath a Marble Sky comes an inspiring new novel of a man and a woman from different worlds whose love is put to the ultimate test as they struggle to survive an extraordinary set of circumstances.View our feature on John ShorsBeside a Burning Sea. One moment, the World War II hospital ship Benevolence is patrolling the South Pacific on a mission of mercyto save wounded American soldiers. The next, Benevolence is split in two by a torpedo, killing almost everyone on board. A small band of survivors, including an injured Japanese soldier and a young American nurse whom he saves from drowning, makes it to the deserted shore of a nearby island. Akira has suffered five years of bloodshed and horror fighting for the Japanese empire. Now, surrounded by enemies he is supposed to hate, he instead finds solace in their companyand rediscovers his love of poetry. While sharing the mystery and beauty of this passion with Annie, the captivating but tormented woman he rescued, Akira grapples with the pain of his past while helping Annie uncover the promise of her future. Meanwhile, the remaining castaways endure a world not of their makinga world as barbaric as it is beautiful, as hateful as it is loving. With the blend of epic storytelling and emotional intensity that distinguishes him as a unique talent, John Shors reveals a powerful story of redemption focusing on unlikely lovers, heroes and villains, and war-torn countriesall, in their own ways, fighting to survive.

Thailands pristine Ko Phi Phi island attracts tourists from around the world. There, struggling to make ends meet, small-resort owners Lek and Sarai are happy to give an American named Patch room and board in exchange for his help. But when Patchs brother, Ryan, arrives, accompanied by his girlfriend, Brooke, Lek learns that Patch is running from the law, and his presence puts Leks family at risk. Meanwhile, Brooke begins to doubt her love for Ryan while her feelings for Patch blossom.In a landscape where natures bounty seems endless, these two families are swept up in an approaching cataclysm that will require all their strength of heart and soul to survive...

Almost a year after the death of his wife, former high-tech executive Ian finds a letter that will change his life. It contains Kates final wish-a plea for him to take their ten-year-old daughter, Mattie, on a trip across Asia, through the countries they had always planned to visit. Eager to honor the woman they loved, Ian and Mattie embark on an epic journey, leaving notes to Kate in "wishing trees" along the way, and encountering miracles large and small. And as they begin to find their way back to each other, they discover that healing is possible and love endures-lessons that Kate hoped to show them all along...

From the critically acclaimed author of Beneath a Marble Sky and Beside a Burning Seathe new novel from a master storyteller,* set in contemporary Asia.From John Shors comes an unforgettable story of redemption set in modern-day Vietnam.Dragon House tells the tale of Iris and Noahtwo Americans who, as a way of healing their own painful pasts, open a center to house and educate Vietnamese street children. In the slums of a city that has known little but war for generations, Iris and Noah befriend children who dream of nothing more than of going to school, having a home, and being loved. Learning from the poorest of the poor, the most silent of the unheard, Iris and Noah find themselves reborn. Resounding with powerful themes of suffering, sacrifice, friendship, and love, Dragon House brings together East and West, war and peace, and celebrates the resilience of the human spirit.

"Fa molts anys, quan jo encara era una nena innocent, el meu pare creia en la perfecció..." La princesa Jahanara rememora l'extraordinària història d'amor dels seus pares, la bella Mumtaz Mahal i l'e

La historia de amor que esconde el Taj MahalLa princesa Jahanara rememora la extraordinaria historia de amor de sus padres, la hermosa Mumtaz Mahal y el emperador Shah Jahan quien, tras la muerte de su esposa, para honrar su memoria, ordena la construccion del mas hermoso mausoleo: el Taj Mahal.Jahanara no tendra mas remedio que tomar las riendas del gobierno para acabar con las intrigas que se despiertan en el reino ante la debilidad de su padre, quien, consumido por el dolor, no es capaz de atender a los asuntos de estado."Este joven escritor consigue resucitar el mundo del Indostan imperial" Publishers Weekly"Una inolvidable historia de amor, narradacontra un telon de fondo de odio y violencia."The India Post"Recomendable para todos aquellos lectoresque disfruten con la ficcion historicao que tengan especial interes en el subcontinente indio."BookIdeas.com