By Roberts Gregory David
Gregory David Roberts - 2005
In 1978, Greg Roberts, a gifted student and writer, turned to heroin after his marriage collapsed, funding his addiction through a series of robberies. Convicted and sentenced to nineteen years, he escaped from a maximum-security prison after two years. He spent the next decade on the run as Australia's most wanted man, eventually hiding in Bombay.
In Bombay, he established a medical clinic for slum dwellers, worked in the Bollywood film industry, and served time in Arthur Road prison. He was recruited by a charismatic branch of the Bombay mafia, working as a forger, counterfeiter, and smuggler. He also fought alongside mujaheddin guerrilla fighters in Afghanistan.
This debut novel, SHANTARAM, draws from this ten-year period of his life. It is an epic tale encompassing slums and luxury hotels, love and torture, mafia wars and Bollywood. The story is a gripping adventure and a profound meditation on good and evil, offering an authentic portrayal of Bombay life.