Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts
Shantaram plunges you headfirst into a world of danger, beauty, and self-discovery. Gregory David Roberts' epic novel follows Lin, an Australian fugitive who flees to the bustling streets of 1980s Bombay, where he finds both redemption and peril. From the moment Lin steps into the sweltering chaos of the city, you're swept along on his incredible journey. You'll feel your heart race as he narrowly escapes capture in a teeming train station, and share his wonder at the kindness of strangers like Prabaker, the endearingly optimistic local guide who becomes Lin's first true friend in India.
The novel vividly brings to life the stark contrasts of Bombay. One day, Lin is living in the squalid but vibrant Dharavi slum, where he sets up a makeshift medical clinic to treat the poor. The next, he's rubbing shoulders with Bollywood stars and foreign diplomats in luxurious hotel bars. Through Lin's eyes, you'll experience the pungent aromas of street food stalls, the cacophony of honking horns and shouting vendors, and the vibrant colors of saris and spice markets.
As Lin becomes more entangled in Bombay's underworld, the stakes grow ever higher. You'll hold your breath as he participates in daring black market currency exchanges and tense negotiations with rival gangs. The prison scenes, where Lin endures brutal beatings and psychological torture, are harrowing in their intensity. But Shantaram is more than just a thrilling adventure. It's a profound exploration of philosophy, spirituality, and the human condition. Through characters like Khader Khan, the erudite crime lord, Roberts delves into weighty topics like morality, fate, and the nature of good and evil. Lin's internal struggle between his criminal past and his desire for redemption forms the emotional core of the novel.
While the line between fact and fiction in Shantaram remains blurry, the raw emotion and vivid detail make every page come alive. You'll find yourself completely immersed in Lin's world, from the raucous celebrations of Holi to the tense quiet of a midnight smuggling run. This isn't just a tale of adventure and redemption. It's a love letter to India and the resilience of the human spirit. Shantaram will challenge your perceptions, break your heart, and ultimately leave you changed. Be warned: once you start this 900-page odyssey, you won't be able to put it down. This book is one of our favorite travel novels.
“One of the reasons why we crave love, and seek it so desperately, is that love is the only cure for loneliness, and shame, and sorrow. But some feelings sink so deep into the heart that only loneliness can help you find them again. Some truths about yourself are so painful that only shame can help you live with them. And some things are just so sad that only your soul can do the crying for you.”
Interesting Facts & Links:
The novel took Roberts 13 years to complete. During this time, he not only rewrote the manuscript multiple times but also continued to live a nomadic lifestyle, traveling between India, Europe, and Australia. This prolonged writing process allowed him to incorporate many of his ongoing experiences into the narrative, contributing to its rich, immersive quality.
There is a great deal of debate as to what is true in Shantaram and what isn't. The book is labeled as a novel, and Roberts has never claimed that it was all true. He claims the stories come from his true experiences, but that the characters and dialogue is created. Many though question what the author did actually experience himself... some claim that he did live in a Mumbai slum for example but never became a medic who helped. There are plenty of articles on the subject, but the letter from the author himself listed here on HubPages is perhaps the most interesting and detailed. Note though that we can't verify if this is even an authentic letter!
The manuscript for "Shantaram" was allegedly destroyed twice by prison guards while Roberts was serving time in Australian jails. He reportedly had to rewrite the entire 900-page novel three times from memory.
The book's title, "Shantaram," means "Man of God's Peace" in Marathi. In the novel, it's the name given to the protagonist by his friend's mother in India, reflecting the transformative nature of his experiences in the country.
The Mountain Shadow continues Lin's story two years after the events of Shantaram, set against the backdrop of Mumbai in the early 2000s. In this sequel, Gregory David Roberts explores themes of love, faith, and redemption as Lin faces new challenges within the city's criminal underworld and pursues philosophical insights from a enigmatic guru.
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