Shantaram

Shantaram

Synopsis

He was Australia's most wanted man. Now he's written Australia's most wanted novel. '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.

Product details

If you enjoyed this product share it with others

Customer Reviews

• Read customer reviews on Shantaram

• Exciting but long

  Reviewed by Tara J. | see all reviews by Tara J.

  21/11/2010

  I loved this book, Roberts really manages to make you feel as though you are with him on his journey through India. The book is certainly extravagant and manages to shock you - in a good way. He also manages to make you do a little philosophizing of your own. I really enjoyed reading the many stories in the book my only criticism is that it was a little long winded at times and went though periods where it was quite heavy. I do highly suggest all to make an attempt at reading this book as it is well worth it.
  • LikeLiked by 1 person
  • Learn More

    You can use the 'like' button to provide positive feedback on books, authors, reviews and other features on the website. 'Like' is similar to voting and will be used to present the most popular content. Once you have clicked 'like', you cannot 'unlike'. You can only 'like' something once.

  • Report abuse

see all reviews