The rich history of medieval Afghanistan through the story of one visionary queen

Seven centuries ago, when the great caravans journeyed to the edges of the world, there lived a girl who loved all things of beauty. Her name was Goharshad.

As a girl, Goharshad imagined the world to be a breathtaking place fueled by art and poetry. Upon marrying a powerful king, Queen Goharshad bravely spearheaded the building of mosques and universities, ushering in a renaissance of art and architecture in her time. Though most of her creations have fallen prey to the ravages of time and war, her memory continues to inspire generations of changemakers. This story is a tribute to a talented, generous, and brave woman whose achievements are a call to future leaders to make the world a more beautiful place.

A picture book biography that shines a spotlight on the benevolent Queen Goharshad, a powerful monarch and patron of the arts from 15th-century Khorasan, a vast kingdom spanning present-day Afghanistan and Iran.