Lucknow: The Last Phase of an Oriental Culture

Sharar begins with a history of the Avadh dynasty, and the relations of its rulers - who ranged between extremes of political wisdom and dissolute instability - with the Mughal Emperors in Delhi and with the British at a time of rising British power in India. He also describes the development of Lucknow's culture and social institutions to a degree of richness that may be compared with the levels attained by the most admired of the great civilizations of history. There follows a virtual `anatomy of the everyday life and artistic achievements of Lucknow during the period, covering an astonishing variety of topics