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In 1978, gifted student and writer Greg Roberts turned to heroin when his marriage collapsed, feeding his addiction with a string of robberies. Caught and convicted, he was given a nineteen-year sentence. After two years, he escaped from a maximum- security prison, spending the next ten years on the run as Australia's most wanted man. Hiding in Bombay, he established a medical clinic for slum- dwellers, worked in the Bollywood film industry and served time in the notorious Arthur Road prison. He was recruited by one of the most charismatic branches of the Bombay mafia for whom he worked as a forger, counterfeiter, and smuggler, and fought alongside a unit of mujaheddin guerrilla fighters in Afghanistan. His debut novel, SHANTARAM, is based on this ten-year period of his life in Bombay. The result is an epic tale of slums and five-star hotels, romantic love and prison torture, mafia gang wars and Bollywood films. A gripping adventure story, SHANTARAM is also a superbly written meditation on good and evil and an authentic evocation of Bombay life.

Product Identifiers

PublisherABACUS, Little, Brown Book Group

ISBN-100349117543

ISBN-139780349117546

eBay Product ID (ePID)87365440

Product Key Features

Book TitleShantaram

AuthorGregory David Roberts

FormatB-Format Paperback, Paperback

LanguageEnglish

TopicGeneral Fiction, Books

Publication Year2005

GenreGeneral & Literary Fiction

Number of Pages944 Pages

Dimensions

Item Height196mm

Item Width128mm

Weight645g

Height195mm

Width132mm

Item Weight641g

Additional Product Features

Place of PublicationLondon

Title_AuthorGregory David Roberts

Spine44mm

Pagination944

PrizesShort-Listed for Commonwealth Writers' Prize Best First Book 2004 (UK) .

Author BiographyGregory David Roberts was born in Melbourne in 1952. After surviving the events dealt with in Shantaram, he was captured in Germany in 1990 and eventually extradited to Australia. On completing his prison sentence, he established a small multi-media company and is now a full-time writer. He is currently working on The Mountain Shadow, a sequel to Shantaram, being the continuing adventures of Lin, Karla and all the other characters still standing at the end of Shantaram, and with a host of new characters and locations in Europe and West Asia.

Date of Publication24/03/2005

Country of PublicationUnited Kingdom

Country/Region of ManufactureUnited Kingdom

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4.8

87 product ratings

75 users rated this 5 out of 5 stars
8 users rated this 4 out of 5 stars
2 users rated this 3 out of 5 stars
1 users rated this 2 out of 5 stars
1 users rated this 1 out of 5 stars

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by 9797debbie
03 Dec, 2019
Shantaram
The most interesting book of any genre that I have read for a long time. Rightly or wrongly, his is a life truly lived. Excellently written without being pretentious with beautifully poetic moments. It's a long book but I didn't want it to end.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by soozbees
12 May, 2017
If you ever dreamt of visiting India, read this book - if you've never dreamt of visiting India, read this book!
An incredible read, it will make you laugh out loud, weep, feel deeply & want to meet all the amazing & real life characters in this amazing true life story. I wanted to start again at the beginning once I'd finished - this book stays with you forever.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by samofthesun2011
25 Mar, 2020
Read it and find out!
To be honest it's one of the best books I have ever read and everyone I know that has read it agrees, regardless of their age race or gender. It's not often I would describe a book as 'beautiful'. The journey you go on reading it is awe inspiring and unforgettable. A definite masterpiece and in time it will be remembered as one of the greatest pieces of literature of the twenty-first century. The follow up is also well worth reading.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by mustavitroy
12 Apr, 2017
Excitement all the way.
A really good read full of the tales of the wonderful country just like i remember when i travelled there, i'm only on part two so lots more to entertain me.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by julierae2006
25 Apr, 2018
Not for the faint hearted!
Having just returned from India I was recommended this book by my friend who is a member of a book club. Best read ever! It was just like reliving my holiday all over again. The way it is written is so real but then it is a real story. If you are thinking about going to India, have been to India or just have a fascination of India, this book is a must. You won't read it in a couple of days though, almost 1000 pages! Well worth it!
Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
by colourindia136
06 Oct, 2021
Amazing Read
This is an amazing story, I read it about 10 years ago the first time and when I saw it advertised I could not resist. I am enjoying it immensely. Takes one straight to India.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by patseymourpat
10 Nov, 2017
Informative with great insight and lots of endearing humour.
A very time of a book at 900 pages, but compelling ready as it's a true story, brilliantly told chocks full of humorous phrases with endearing eccentric characters. Only at page 120 and looking forward to every page turn.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by suzialone
18 Jan, 2017
A Good read
Don't let the 900+ pages put you off, it's well worth the effort. His descriptions are so good I could be in the places he describes. He has some incredible adventures and meets some very interesting people!! Hard to believe it is this century when he describes the poverty and living conditions
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by shari.an
20 Aug, 2020
A brilliant book
An absolutely brilliant book, absorbing and gripping. There are a few unlikely coincidences in it but never mind, they do help the plot move along. Fascinating about the main character's life. Other characters brilliantly described as are the situations. You can imagine yourself there. Would 100% recommend.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by bigmart001
17 Mar, 2021
Incredibly powerful, fascinating true story.
One of the best books I have ever read. Fascinating insight into daily life in Bombay. The quality of the writing is superb.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned