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Gregory David Roberts

Shantaram Kindle Edition

by Gregory David Roberts (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4,638 ratings

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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.

Length: 944 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Page Flip: Enabled	Language: English

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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 )

Book Description

* A publishing sensation: a stunning debut 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

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 1518 KB
Print Length: 944 pages
Publisher: Picador Australia (1 July 2009)
Sold by: Macmillan (AU)
Language: English
ASIN: B003R50FRI
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray:

Enabled
Word Wise: Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported
Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Customer Reviews: 4,638 customer ratings
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #4,475 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #470 in Contemporary Fiction (Kindle Store)

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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

3 people found this helpful

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Dr G.

The one holiday read you need

Reviewed in Australia on 3 May 2020

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Jacotte

The awfulness and joy of India

Reviewed in Australia on 23 September 2018

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What a mammoth story of India! Highly recommended for atmosphere as understood by a feringhi, whatever his degree of reality. Once you recognise the tropes of the hero's goodness, suffering and philosophy, you don't need to read to the very end. It's a good book to read electronically; the hard copy weighs a ton.

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!

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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.

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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!

15 people found this helpful

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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!

23 people found this helpful

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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

10 people found this helpful

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Damo inc.

This book is superb

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 December 2018

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After 2 years, I've finally just finished this book (I'm not a big reader)... it is a brilliant book. It is beautifully written, a masterclass in EQ in terms of self understanding and language. The story is exciting and you care about the characters.

It is a long book, and I wonder if Robert's, the writer, could have achieved in 400 pages what has taken him 800+ pages - however it is a book that keeps your attention in both its story, and the beauty of how its told.

Defo recommend this book, you're in for a hell of a ride.

The ending is really nice too, a bit of closure.

8 people found this helpful

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L.Latham

Shantaram

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 May 2018

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Having lived in India for 30 years I can appreciate the accuracy of the author's descriptions and can testify to most of his assertions. Whilst I really enjoyed the earlier part of book I found his connection to the crusade to Afghanistan and the underworld of Bombay' s mafia hard to understand when he so obviously was an intelligent man and could have broken free from the forces that imprisoned him. Nonetheless, I should like to read the sequel.

7 people found this helpful

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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.

7 people found this helpful

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custommmaid

Enthralling but hard-going in places

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 August 2018

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Had me gripped from the first few pages: the writer effortlessly intertwines a fiercely evocative sense of place with the pace and intrigue of a thriller, composed using an eloquent, intelligent and impassioned prose style. However, particularly towards the latter stages, the writer embarks upon a number of lengthy, seemingly self-indulgent and, arguably, unnecessary philosophical passages (potentially designed to reach a sense of personal catharsis) which somewhat stilts the flow of the narrative and, in my view, excludes the reader. However, I was so invested in the characters and the many unanswered threads by this point that I was determined to plough through, and I’m very glad that I did. Overall, I would highly recommend this book, but be prepared to invest a considerable amount of time/ brain-power if you do decide to pick it up as it’s not exactly a quick and easy read.

6 people found this helpful

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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!

One person found this helpful

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Ruth

Stunned by this amazing novel.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2020

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I heard about this book some 5 off weeks ago and went straight to the reviews, as you do. I worked my way through them and was surprised not to find what I would consider a bad one. Well!! It didn't warn me in any of the reviews that this book would take over my life - in a literary sense. 944 page books usually tend to get tedious to me, mainly due to too much detail where it's not needed, not Shantaram, not in the slightest.
To say this is the best novel I've ever read would be a huge understatement, in my humble opinion it is the work of a genius, and I can honestly say it will live with me for a very long time, if not forever. 5 stars, WONDERFUL!!

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Amazon Customer

Epic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 November 2019

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I don't usually read books like this but as soon as I started reading this one I could not put it down. I never try to give away the story in a review and I'm not going to start here. What I will say is if you are looking for something new to dive into and you can get into for the long road then this is it. This is a long book a epic story that will make you angry, happy and sad all at the same time. Amazing book I will be recommending it to anyone who will listen.

One person found this helpful

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Martjt

A page turner of epic proportions

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 October 2017

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This is an epic book, that is so much more that the usual travelogue. If you're lucky enough to have traveled in India it will bring back all your memories of the wonderful assault on all you senses that India is. I you read it and are thinking of travelling to India you will be booking your flight by the time you've finished the book. If you've never dreamt of visiting India, this may be the book that makes up your mind

2 people found this helpful

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Toby

One the one hand...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 January 2020

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It’s a love/hate thing with this book. It has positives and negatives. Positives are: often the story is so gripping you can’t put it down and some of the philosophy has some genuine depth. Negatively however the writer is monumentally self indulgent, clearly a fantasist of Mitty-esque proportions and by the end you find it hard to sympathise with any character at all apart from Prabaker. A million little pieces mark2

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Mr. M. Walsh

I'm going to update this review later, but...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 November 2019

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I'm only a short way in to the book - but thus far it reads like a spoof autobiography of a Stephen Segal character from the nineties: a budget-philosopher hard-boiled warrior, down on his luck but with a heart of gold.

Oh, and tough. Did we cover that? Real tough. Jack Reacher ain't got shiz on the guy.

It's well-written in the sense that it's got decent prose. But dear God does it ever get tiring hearing about how hard but awesome a guy the author is, and the endless pearls of sophomoric wisdom don't help that much.

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Mr. N. A. McKee

A Journey for Your Soul

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 September 2013

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I was so touched by this book that I felt moved to write a poem. There is part of me that rejoices to know that it is largely fiction - because I would spare some of the characters the sadness and pain experienced in the book. The book, though, for me, is a wise exploration of life's great questions and dilemmas. In as much as you can associate with the main characters, you can explore those moral and emotional dilemmas without having to live through such harsh lessons in your own 'real' life. The book reminded me again of true wealth, and of why I live to read. Here is the poem:

Shantaram
I'd found my escape through the pages of your book,
Fleeing beside you with each turn we took;
You released me from my mundane struggles
Thus, I'd take you to bed, and down we'd snuggle...

I lived again, through you, vicariously it seems for years
Your life, your loves, your hopes, your fears;
Knowing you more deeply with each turn of the pages
Taking only hours to read events that took ages.

They say, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."
So I say, "thank you!" that my teacher drew near
And walked at my pace until I began to understand
What life's decisions can do to a man.
(That life's decisions make a man.)

Good deeds, bad choices, the road that's not taken;
Regrets and remorse, and beliefs that are shaken.
New chapters and beginnings, great loss and then redemption;
Such sadness, such joy, such dilemmas, such tension.
You have made a roller-coaster of my heart -
The whole gamut of emotions rise and fall:
Joy, sorrow, relief, and grief -
I've travelled through them all.
And now our journey's at its end
I'm proud to count you as my intimate friend.

Go and make friends with this book x

3 people found this helpful

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Terrible Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2019

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Read this one and it's sequel "The Mountain Shadow" at the start of the year and found them both absolutely terrible. Long, preachy books with slow winding plots that try to turn every sunrise or car back-firing into the an epiphany moment. Avoid at all costs

One person found this helpful

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