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Gregory David Roberts

Shantaram Kindle Edition

by Gregory David Roberts (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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"A publishing phenomenon" Sunday Times

It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the heart of it came to me in an instant, while I was chained to a wall and being tortured.

Shantaram is a novel based on the life of the author, Gregory David Roberts. In 1978 Roberts was sentenced to nineteen years imprisonment as punishment for a series of robberies of building-society branches, credit unions, and shops he had committed while addicted to heroin. In July 1980 he escaped from Victoria's maximum-security prison in broad daylight, thereby becoming one of Australia's most wanted men for what turned out to be the next ten years. For most of this period he lived in Bombay. He set up a free health clinic in the slums, acted in Bollywood movies, worked for the Bombay mafia as a forger, counterfeiter, and smuggler and, as a gun-runner, resupplied a unit of mujaheddin guerrilla fighters in Afghanistan. This is the setting of Shantaram.

Apart from having this highly unusual personal background, Greg Roberts is a very gifted writer. His book is a blend of vivid dialogue, unforgettable characters, amazing adventures, and superb evocations of Indian life. It can be read as a vast, extended thriller, as well as a superbly written meditation on the nature of good and evil. It is a compelling tale of a hunted man who had lost everything - his home, his family, and his soul - and came to find his humanity while living at the wildest edge of experience.

Gregory David Roberts retired from public life in 2014 to devote time to his family and new writing projects.

The Mountain Shadow, sequel to Shantaram, is available now.

PRAISE FOR SHANTARAM

"A literary masterpiece ... at once erudite and intimate, reflective and funny ... it has the grit and pace of a thriller" Daily Telegraph

"Powerful and original ... a remarkable achievement" Sunday Telegraph

"Extraordinarily vivid ... a gigantic, jaw-dropping, grittily authentic saga" Daily Mail

"At once a high-kicking, eye-gouging adventure, a love saga and a savage yet tenderly lyrical fugitive vision." Time Out

Fans of Vikram Seth, John Irving and David Mitchell will love Shantaram.

Print length

1250 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Picador Australia
Publication date

1 July 2009
File size

1789 KB
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Product description

Review

A literary masterpiece ... at once erudite and intimate, reflective and funny ... it has the grit and pace of a thriller ― DAILY TELEGRAPH

Powerful and original ... a remarkable achievement ― SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Extraordinarily vivid ... a gigantic, jaw-dropping, grittily authentic saga ― DAILY MAIL

A publishing phenomenon ― SUNDAY TIMES --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From the Author

Gregory David Roberts is now a full-time writer, film producer, and international public speaker. In Bombay he has established a charitable trust to care for the poorest of the poor slum-dwellers. He divides his time between Geneva and Bombay. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

About the Author

Gregory David Roberts retired from public life in 2014 to devote time to his family and new writing projects. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From the Back Cover

A novel of high adventure, great storytelling and moral purpose, based on an extraordinary true story of eight years in the Bombay underworld.

'In the early 80s, Gregory David Roberts, an armed robber and heroin addict, escaped from an Australian prison to India, where he lived in a Bombay slum. There, he established a free health clinic and also joined the mafia, working as a money launderer, forger and street solider. He found time to learn Hindi and Marathi, fall in love, and spend time being worked over in an Indian jail. Then, in case anyone thought he was slacking, he acted in Bollywood and fought with the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan . . . Amazingly, Roberts wrote Shantaram three times after prison guards trashed the first two versions. It's a profound tribute to his willpower . . . At once a high-kicking, eye-gouging adventure, a love saga and a savage yet tenderly lyrical fugitive vision' Time Out

'Extraordinary vivid . . . a gigantic, jaw-dropping, grittily authentic saga' Daily Mail

'Powerful and original . . . a remarkable achievement' Sunday Telegraph

'Vivid and compassionate . . . impressive' Guardian

'A publishing phenomenon' Sunday Times

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From the Publisher

Review

A literary masterpiece ... at once erudite and intimate, reflective and funny ... it has the grit and pace of a thriller (DAILY TELEGRAPH )

Powerful and original ... a remarkable achievement (Sunday TELEGRAPH )

Extraordinarily vivid ... a gigantic, jaw-dropping, grittily authentic saga (DAILY MAIL )

A publishing phenomenon (SUNDAY TIMES ) --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Book Description

* A publishing sensation: a stunning novel based on the author's dramatic and extraordinary true story of life on the run in the Bombay underworld
* 'A literary masterpiece ... it has the grit and pace of a thriller' DAILY TELEGRAPH

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003R50FRI
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Picador Australia (1 July 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1789 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 1250 pages

Best Sellers Rank: 2,945 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 345 in Contemporary Fiction (Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews:
8,859 ratings

About the author

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Gregory David Roberts

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Gregory David Roberts (GDR), is an author, songwriter, composer and artist. He’s best known for his critically acclaimed best-selling novel Shantaram, which has sold over 6 million copies and was hailed “a masterpiece” by critics. It has been translated into 41 languages and is sold in over 116 countries.

In 2014, GDR retired from public life to write The Spiritual Path, work on musical projects and spend time with his family. The follow-up novel The Mountain Shadow was released in 2015. Currently, a TV series based on Shantaram and The Mountain Shadow, is in production by Apple TV +, Paramount TV and Anonymous Content, starring Charlie Hunnam as the lead.

In 2021, GDR published his first non-fiction book, The Spiritual Path, which takes us on a gripping personal journey of wonder and insight into science, belief, faith and devotion where Roberts describes the step-by-step path he followed in search of spiritual connection.

GDR fulfilled a life-long held ambition to write and record music with the release of his debut album Love&Faith in 2020. The album is co-produced by GDR and Dale ‘Dizzle’ Virgo (Drake/ Rihanna/Florence + The Machine/ Kendrick Lamar) and was recorded at Geejam Studios, Jamaica. 2021, saw GDR expand his music repertoire with the release of his first solo instrumental album Deep Cowboy.

www.gregorydavidroberts.com

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2 star		1%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from Australia

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Dr G.

The one holiday read you need

Reviewed in Australia on 3 May 2020

Verified Purchase

This is a big - thick book, the type you would beat an intruder with if you grabbed it and it would hurt be it the hardback or the paperback. Coming in at 933 pages if you take this book on holiday you will have to sacrifice packing a pair of shoes. That said, it is worth it - you wouldn't have worn those shoes anyway. This is also a book that I do not think would work well on Kindle - no, it's a hold and read book, lay down and think about what you have just read book, a re-read over that chapter again book - for it is an autobiographical novel by a man known for ten years as Australia's most wanted man. Roberts takes us to the highs and lows of Bombay/Mumbai where he had sought shelter after escaping from Australian prison. In the years that he was in India, he participated in a plethora of activities, from setting up a free medical clinic for the slum poor, to associating with the Bombay Mafia, and being put in Bombay jail. Through it all runs his love for one woman, a woman who sometimes not worthy of that vastness of love, and who sometimes leads him down the path of great troubles. The reader will be glad to know that whilst the novel is autobiographical, Roberts captured in Germany and returns to Australia to finish his sentence - and write this book. Highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

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elizabeth

Famous book but annoying writing

Reviewed in Australia on 26 July 2018

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This story about a philosophising armed robber who goes to war, sets up a clinic, is vegetarian, donates blood and runs to Bombay is hard work. The narrator has too much to say about everything. All the man big characters are men. The few Women are two dimensional. Everyone’s eyes are mentioned over and over. The head criminal is described as so intelligent and religious but is just making money out of criminals. Very self indulgent

6 people found this helpful

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Helen Devitt

Fabulous

Reviewed in Australia on 17 October 2019

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A must read. Loved it, loved it, loved it! At least I loved the first 3/4 of this mammoth read. Last 200 pages I found rather predictable sadly. However Roberts continued to keep me awake flipping pages to the very end. Initially a cold hearted Pentridge Prison escapee, Roberts is somewhat morally transformed by the tumultuous street life of Bombay. His friendships and benevolence with and for the natives of the slums are profoundly heart warming. Conversely he slides easily into the harsh malevolence of the Bombay crime world. Strangely there is still something likeable and worthy in Roberts and his crime characters.

3 people found this helpful

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markw

facinating

Reviewed in Australia on 10 January 2022

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A solid read but worthwhile … Shantaram embodies one man’s reflections on Bombay of the early 90’s - seen from the eyes of someone who is deeply involved in the underclass of that city…. A fascinating and quite compelling read

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James Parsons

A recommended read.

Reviewed in Australia on 3 March 2019

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A beautiful observation of India and the Indian people woven into to a fabulous story of individual triumph, destruction, love and tragedy. The story is bought to life through a rich set of characters and events that you have read about in the history books but come to realise you barely understand. Global politics played out at the individual level and wrapped up in the complexity that could only be created in a billion plus person county like India.

One person found this helpful

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Betty Mathews

Sleeplessness in the night

Reviewed in Australia on 2 February 2019

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Many a night with no sleep. Just so excited to read this story. Anxious to leave work to get to the next chapter. This was an exciting, emotional, and tearsome book I have read so far. Will be sure to read more books from this author. I would like to thank you for publishing a great book

One person found this helpful

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Rob Barron

Have a good dictionary at your elbow, you will need it.

Reviewed in Australia on 17 January 2020

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A highly readable tome. I thought I had a good vocabulary but Gregory Roberts puts me to shame. My Oxford Dictionary could not help me with many the words he uses. The anti-heroes he creates weave so many clever philosophical phrases into their conversations I wish I had written them all down. I particularly liked "It is not the sin in the crime but the crime in the sin." I flew through the 933 pages, enjoying every one of them.

One person found this helpful

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Brent Taylor

Shantatam - I Couldn't Put It Down

Reviewed in Australia on 14 June 2019

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What an amazing story, providing a wonderful insight into the Indian culture, and the ever present world of crime in Bombay. Also, a story of acceptance of an Australian fugitive into the lives of the locals. Many interesting sub plots throughout. You will not be disappointed. You should read this book!

One person found this helpful

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philip

Annoying Disneyfied read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 April 2019

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This book was recommended and for the first 10% of the book I was really enjoying the story and the detail about the author's first few weeks in India. I have visited India many times and related to the chaos and sheer vitality of the place. However, I quickly became annoyed with the boundless egotism of the author. Everyone he meets admires him! The poor are all noble and happy and forever smiling through their sufferings. Endless life-affirming advice and anecdotes became tiresome. It reads like a Disneyfied version of a real life experience. I struggled on to 25% on my Kindle but finally gave up when one of his many many new friends arranged for two bear handlers to bring him a real bear to give him a bear hug (the author had complained about missing bear hugs in Australia and his new Indian friend had misinterpreted the reference). Really!

52 people found this helpful

Nikkike

One of my favourite ever books!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 July 2017

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One of the best books I've ever read (and I've read quite a few!) It has such rich descriptions and characters that you feel you're there every step of the way. I went through the whole gamut of emotions and was left with a real urge to visit the places and see the sights for myself. The author obviously has such a genuine love for the country and its people, which was apparent on every page. I've gifted this book to many friends and will continue to do so. It's wonderful!

37 people found this helpful

charlie k

Brilliant read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 February 2019

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I never heard of this guy before. This book was a word of mouth suggestion by someone who I've actually forgotten! Quite long at over 900 pages but worth the read. Reading this book is an experience of the trials and tribulations of Shantaram. His Indian nickname. From the Mumbai slums to the mountains of Afghanistan and everywhere else in between, this book is part truth part fiction. The story of a reformed heroin addict who escapes prison in Australia and travels to India to try to begin a new life. He's a reformed character in more ways than one. Apparently he tried to write this book three times and even spent time in an Indian prison, all the while being subjected to severe beatings by his captors. I think for this alone, it's worth the effort to read as the effort he had to publish it! Unfortunately the follow up The Mountain Shadow isn't as great. If you want to finish the story

15 people found this helpful

P G.

Too long

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 November 2018

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I read this because someone else suggested it. But after having read it in full, I have discovered that the book is long winded slow at times unnecessary detail drags little doesn’t have a proper closure or ending leaves too many loose ties ends, overall I am very disappointed in the quality of the book, after reading 900 pages, I expected a lot more. Give it a miss. Quite frankly after having read it the book seems pointless, what needed to be told could’ve been told in one chapter the rest is just waffle. Don’t bother reading it.

17 people found this helpful

Book Enthusiast

A long read, full of emotion, tragedy and adventure

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 April 2020

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Shantaram, is a favourite amongst gap year students - presumably imagining they are the hero of the story.

This is a long read, 932 pages, of varying pace. The author presents himself as a lovable character, liked by almost everyone. His crimes are presented as regrettable but somehow noble...which can be difficult to swallow as the reader.

An entertaining story, though one that could perhaps have been edited down. Full of emotion, tragedy and adventure. It perhaps tries to be more philosophical than deserves at times. The most tantalising aspect is the unrecorded trip to the war in Sri Lanka, making it despite its length feel like it is missing closure - an irony as much of the book is about the protagonists achieving this themselves!

5 people found this helpful

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