The friendship between Emperor Akbar and his minister Birbal created history and some delightful stories! The tales of Akbar and Birbal have been passed on from generation to generation; enthralling young and old listeners alike. This book brings together a selection of these stories; along with fascinating historical details about the Mughal court; the emperor and his witty courtier. From the time that a chance meeting in the forest brought Akbar and Birbal face-to-face; the emperor and his minister together faced dilemmas that ranged from the ethical to the personal; from debates on the true nature of justice to the problems of hen-pecked husbands. An old widow is robbed of her bag of gold and Birbal nails the culprit. A thief runs away with the emperor s royal seal but gives Akbar a surprise later. Birbal manages a miraculous escape when envious courtiers conspire to have him killed. The king asks his ministers how many crows there are in the city; and only Birbal has the answer. With well-researched introductions to each aspect of Mughal life; Amita Sarin recreates Akbar s court in all its grandeur and vitality. The stories in this collection are both amusing and thought-provoking; both historical and timeless.