This is a biography of Zahir al-Din Muhammud Babur (1483-1530), the founder of the state that would evolve into the Mughal Empire. Although the legacy of that Empire looms large in Asian history, Dale (history, Ohio State U.) suggests that Babur's more enduring contribution may have been his autobiography and other literary output. His biography of Babur is written largely as a commentary on Babur's autobiography and poetry in order to illustrate the centrality of Babur's narrative for historical understanding of the period and to critique his autobiographical intent. He intersperses thematic and narrative chapters, with the thematic chapters exploring the nature and significance of Babur's writings and what they reveal about Babur's personality, while the narrative chapters advance the story through critical evaluation of Babur's account of his life and the politics of his society. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)