ShantaramAuthor/s: Gregory David Roberts

Gregory David Roberts, a young Australian convict travels to India to escape his sentence. He finds himself in Bombay, a city so alien to his life in Australia that it shakes his core, yet gives him solace. Living in a slum, Gregory establishes a free health clinic and joins the local mafia. He learns Hindi and Marathi in his spare time and falls in love with an extraordinary woman. He is caught for his involvement in money laundering and forging, serving time in an Indian prison. Following this, Gregory ends up fighting the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan.

Shantaram is a profound tale that includes all the characteristics of a brilliant novel. It has high drama, action and romance. The first two versions of this novel were trashed by prison wardens. Despite this, Gregory David Roberts persisted in this desire to tell his story. This is a must read for all. It grips you from the very beginning to the end.