Shantaram cover art

Shantaram

Shantaram, Book 1

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Shantaram

By: Gregory David Roberts
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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About this listen

In a spectacular 43 hours of storytelling, Gregory David Roberts and narrator Humphrey Bower take listeners on a rollercoaster of a journey through the streets and slums of India. Vivid and lyrical, some have gone so far as to call Shantaram a literary masterpiece.

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 soldier. 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...

©2003 Gregory David Roberts (P)2006 Black Stone Audio Inc Action & Adventure Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Psychological Thriller & Suspense Fiction Exciting Heartfelt Funny

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Critic reviews

"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)
“At once a high-kicking, eye-gouging adventure, a love saga and a savage yet tenderly lyrical fugitive vision.” ( Time Out)
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I had read Shantaram in 2009 whilst travelling through India and loved the story so much that I recomended this book to all my friends and family. I wanted to read the book again but decided to listen to the audio version instead. I was concerned that i might not enjoy the experience as much and probably end up dissapointed as when you see a bad film version of a book you have loved and enjoyed so much. To my delight i was hooked right from the start. What an incredible performance by the narrator Humphrey Bower! It has been an amazing experience. Thank you for putting your heart and soul in this beautifully written book.

An incredible piece of art (written & narrated)

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I absolutely loved this story it made me laugh and cry sometimes both at once. I now want to travel to India and this book has taught me so much about people. I will recommend it to as many as possible, do not miss out on this one.

Awesome

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Just loved this book so much that I bought a physical copy for my bookshelf. Lin takes you on a journey through India, with moments that make you laugh, cry or gasp out loud. Not very often I would call a book life changing but the philosophies held within and the humble nature of the Indian people really has made me think very deeply about life. I f you have a spare several hours, listen to it or read it!

Just sublime...

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Gregory David Roberts brings India to life through his descriptions, that allow the reader to vividly imagine the places, people and events which combine to make a most enjoyable book. Humphrey Bower brings the characters to life brilliantly; each one has an individual personality; by the end, you really feel that you know them and have shared their lives.

Multi-faceted story, delivered beautifully

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this book is full of lessons for life, what we think we know and what is actually present

lots of lessons

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loved the book have recomended it to my freinds. its one of those that compells you to not put it down.

an amazing story from a remarkable point of view.

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impeccably read
insanely good book
so much depth and wisdom
i loved loved loved It

one of the top 5 books ever...

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I was captured from the beginning, what an amazing story. However 30+ hours in, the story just started to fall apart. I have to confess I was brought to tears at many points early on in the story, but the last 12 hours was just silly nonsense. I enjoyed the narrator and how he wove the story.

Could have been Epic

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what will I do without this book which has become such a close companion. A truly incredible story which submerges the listener into another world. descriptions are incredible the plot enthralling and the performance brilliant. life changing.

incredible

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Probably the best novel I have ever read (listened to). I am 83 years old and “three times in a rowing boat” so I have seen a bit of life.
Magnificent,
Dr. Charles Carson.

Shantraram

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