Hyderabadis still remember the reign of Mahbub Ali Pasha as a golden age in the history of their city. Mahbub, beloved of his people, who ruled Hyderabad at the turn of the twentieth century, was legendary for his generosity and benevolent concern for his subjects.

Weaving together memories, stories and anecdotes, historical facts and archival source material, this book paints a loving picture of life at various levels in this elegant city, and of Mahbub Ali Pasha himself, who, like a fairy-tale prince, mixed with the common people, sharing their joys and sorrows.

Harriet Ronken Lynton (1920–2018) lived in Hyderabad for several years. She was a member of the faculty of the Harvard Business School and author of several books on organizational behaviour. Writing on the history of Hyderabad was a strong avocation. She published biographies of Mahbub Ali Pasha, the Nizam of Hyderabad, his regent, as well as Mrinalini Sarabhai, the Bharata Natyam dancer. Lynton also wrote four novels and a memoir.

Mohini Rajan belonged to a Hyderabad family. Granddaughter of the man who was Kotwal under Osman Ali Khan Nizam VII, she was familiar with many of the families who appear in this book. Ms Rajan passed away in 1975.