Lucknow flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cosmopolitan Indo-Islamic-European capital in northern India. Its art and culture are the subject of an exhibition organized at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (December 2010-February 2011) and scheduled to travel to Paris during 2011. Although published in conjunction with the exhibition, this elegant volume offers rich contextual information and is intended to complement rather than duplicate the exhibition's thematic and chronological presentation. Images of some 200 works of art are intertwined in the context of essays exploring Lucknow's cultural landscape, expressive traditions, architectural heritage, poetic traditions, music, and textiles and dress. Stephen Markel is the curator and department head of South and Southeast Asian Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; he was joined in this endeavor by his co-curator Tushara Bindu Gude, and the contributors of nine scholarly essays. The volume is oversize (10x12") and beautifully designed and produced. It includes a glossary, cross-referenced checklist of the exhibition, an extensive bibliography, and an index. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)