Shantaram

A Novel

By: Gregory David Roberts

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 42 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Based on his own extraordinary life, Gregory David Roberts’ Shantaram is a mesmerizing novel about a man on the run who becomes entangled within the underworld of 1980s Bombay—the basis for the Apple + TV series starring Charlie Hunnam.

“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.”

An escaped convict with a false passport, Lin flees maximum security prison in Australia for the teeming streets of Bombay, where he can disappear. Accompanied by his guide and faithful friend, Prabaker, the two enter the city’s hidden society of beggars and gangsters, prostitutes and holy men, soldiers and actors, and Indians and exiles from other countries, who seek in this remarkable place what they cannot find elsewhere.

As a hunted man without a home, family, or identity, Lin searches for love and meaning while running a clinic in one of the city’s poorest slums, and serving his apprenticeship in the dark arts of the Bombay mafia. The search leads him to war, prison torture, murder, and a series of enigmatic and bloody betrayals. The keys to unlock the mysteries and intrigues that bind Lin are held by two people. The first is Khader Khan: mafia godfather, criminal-philosopher-saint, and mentor to Lin in the underworld of the Golden City. The second is Karla: elusive, dangerous, and beautiful, whose passions are driven by secrets that torment her and yet give her a terrible power.

Burning slums and five-star hotels, romantic love and prison agonies, criminal wars and Bollywood films, spiritual gurus and mujaheddin guerrillas—this huge novel has the world of human experience in its reach, and a passionate love for India at its heart.

©2003 Gregory David Roberts (P)2006 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Shantaram is a novel of the first order, a work of extraordinary art, a thing of exceptional beauty. If someone asked me what the book was about, I would have to say everything, every thing in the world. Gregory David Roberts does for Bombay what Lawrence Durrell did for Alexandria, what Melville did for the South Seas, and what Thoreau did for Walden Pond: He makes it an eternal player in the literature of the world." (Pat Conroy)

"[A] sprawling, intelligent novel…full of vibrant characters…the exuberance of his prose is refreshing…Roberts brings us through Bombay's slums and opium houses, its prostitution dens and ex-pat bars, saying, You come now. And we follow." (The Washington Post)

"Few stand out quite like Shantaram …nothing if not entertaining. Sometimes a big story is its own best reward." (The New York Times)

Wonderful

Beautiful story, well narrated, and full of twists and turns! A must share. Loved it.

A timeless novel, performed flawlessly.

Without expectation, this book has been an amazing journey. Written like a classic, performed with perfection, you won't be disappointed.

Not for the faint hearted - but an excellent book!

The book is excellent and I loved each and every part of it. It was so detailed and the words were poetic and beautiful. I loved the descriptions and detail. Gregory David Roberts has a wonderful way with words. I got taken to the place and lived each part of it in my minds eye in a moment. A great book.

The book was gory, exciting, interesting, violent and scary, yet awe inspiring and with a message throughout the lines. I loved it! For me to finish a book - particularly one of this magnitude - it had to be phenomenal.

The Narrator: I cannot help but feel that the if the narrator were different, you would loose the excitement of the book. Humphrey Bower kept me intrigued and interested. I will be looking for more books that he narrates. Bravo Humphrey Bower.

Great book, phenomenal performance.

Great book, phenomenal performance.
Reviews should include at least 15 words, but the 4 I started with really sum it up.
Enjoy!

Amazing Narration

A tremendous job handling all of the various accents as well as the range of emotions. There was a bit too much philosophizing in the story that an editor should have trimmed but I really enjoyed the book nonetheless.

Epic

This is an wpic story full of detail and emotion. The Narrarator is probably the best I have ever heard. So many characters each with their own voices and accents. Incredible.

Amazing

Truly one of the best books I have read in my life and I’ve read literally hundreds. Beautiful and moving. I am almost bereft now that it’s done. The reader is incredible.

Awesome book!

This book is a must listen too, I was glued too it , and looked forward to my commute to listen to more.

Longest book ever

I really enjoyed this book. It was way too long. I’m glad I finished it. Excellent reader.

Great book but long at times

Fantastically written. Amazing story. It just felt really long at times but if you get through it, it’s worth it.