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the complete review - autobiography/history

Baburnama

by
Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur

general information | review summaries | our review | links | about the author

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Our Assessment:

B+ : fascinating, in part confounding, historical document

See our review for fuller assessment.

[* refers to the Annette Susannah Beveridge translation]

Please note that Robert Dankoff's review also refers to the more complete three volume Chagatay/Persian/English Harvard University edition (the English translation being identical to the Oxford UP version reviewed by the others).

  Review Consensus:

  A classic text. Very enthusiastic about excellent presentation of the book. Some reservations about aspects of the translation -- in part its modern tone, in part specific complaints about certain words.


  From the Reviews:

• "In sum, Thackston has some fine features but also some serious drawbacks. (...) The elegant English translation, far superior to Beveridge in so many respects, unfortunately does not quite replace Beveridge, and even in the OUP version has some serious errors; I hope it will be corrected and published in a second edition." - Robert Dankoff, Journal of the American Oriental Society
  
  
• "Babur's memoirs combine literature with history, and Thackston has gone to a great deal of trouble to make the text as clear as possible. The reader, however, will occasionally disagree with the translation of a word." - Iran B. Jewett, Middle East Journal
  
  
• "(The Baburnama) belongs with that tiny handful of the world's literary masterpieces that can accurately be described as unique: works that are without precedent and without imitators." - Amitav Ghosh, The New Republic
  
  
• "(T)he reason The Babur Nama speaks intimately across the centuries -- the reason this book has been compared to the diaries of Samuel Pepys -- is how intelligent, humane, self-critical and even light-souled it is. (...) Babur is charming and surprisingly modern company on the page." - Dwight Garner, The New York Times
  
  
• "(T)he general reader should be warned that this is not a book to be dutifully read page by page. Rather, parts of Babur's story should be rapidly skimmed, while others should be savored." - Robert Irwin, The New York Times Book Review

Please note that these ratings solely represent the complete review's biased interpretation and subjective opinion of the actual reviews and do not claim to accurately reflect or represent the views of the reviewers. Similarly the illustrative quotes chosen here are merely those the complete review subjectively believes represent the tenor and judgment of the review as a whole. We acknowledge (and remind and warn you) that they may, in fact, be entirely unrepresentative of the actual reviews by any other measure.

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The complete review's Review:

       This historic document is unusual for a number of reasons. An autobiography, it was written in a culture and time where the genre was unknown. Written in Chagatay Turkish, the spoken language of the Timurids, it is "one of the longest examples of sustained prose in the language." And the author, the great Babur, is one of the leading figures of his time
       The text is not complete, but great parts of it remain. Best known in its Persian version it has been translated into English before. Wheeler M. Thackston Jr.'s is a new translation, more scholarly in approach as well as with a considerably updated style. The Oxford University Press edition is a remarkable book, generously illustrated with pictures from the period and photographs of sites figuring in the text. Maps and genealogical tables also help the reader navigate through the bewildering array of people and places. Of particular use are also the extensive notes, well-positioned in the wide margins of the text. The presentation of the text is exemplary.
       The text itself is also fascinating. In 1494, "in the province of Fergana, in my twelfth year I became king," Babur begins his chronicle. He describes the small state and how he came to be king, the first steps in an illustrious career that would take him far from this place. He is meticulous in recording the details of his life: here and throughout his autobiography Babur is careful to give a full picture of geography, history, nature, and the many people involved.
       The chronicle provides a wealth of information about many aspects of the life and history of those turbulent times. Babur explains the conflicts and battles between nations and peoples, but he also gives detailed descriptions of the new lands and customs he comes across, a useful and vivid panorama of much of Central and South East Asia.
       Babur is also forthright in his descriptions of himself, with little puffery. He acknowledges weaknesses and uncertainty as to certain actions (or, for example, shyness in his relationship with his wife when he first weds at a young age). There are attempts at poetry interspersed in the text. Alcohol and battle are soberly and humanly addressed.
       Babur's great, lasting success was the conquest of Hindustan and the establishment of the Mughal dynasty there. Although he recognizes it as a triumph, it is also clear that he misses his Central Asian roots.
       The text is not complete, but it gives a full picture of Babur's fascinating life. Wheeler M. Thackston Jr.'s extensive marginal notes also provide much of the additional information regarding the players and the actions addressed in the text. Many of the scenes (and Babur himself) come alive in the often gripping history.
       There are some difficulties to the text, particularly Babur's penchant of providing too much detail. There are long lists of names, obscure lineages carefully traced, and natural descriptions that might not be of general interest. The text does not always read smoothly, though the presentation tries to make it as easy on the reader as possible.
       A fascinating and beautiful book, it is not always an easy or enjoyable read. Much, however, is very impressive, and it is a great document of the times. Certainly recommended.

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Links:

• Everyman's Library publicity page (Beveridge translation)
• Modern Library publicity page (Thackston translation)
• Excerpts from The Memoirs of Babur

• The New York Times Book Review
• Danny Yee's Book Reviews

• The man behind the mosque by Amitav Ghosh at The Little Magazine

• Persian poet Nizami's brilliant biography of Alexander the Great, Sikandar Nama, e bara
• Abu'l-Fazl's The History of Akbar (I)
• See Index of Indian literature
• See Index of Persian and Iranian literature
• See Index of Biographical works under review
• See Index of Books Written Before 1900

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About the Author:

       Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur (1483-1530) was one of the greatest Timurid leaders, a descendant of Tamerlane (Amir Temür). He conquered Hindustan and founded the Mughal dynasty.

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