Shantaram

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts is a sprawling literary novel set in Bombay in the 1980s, following the story of a man on the run who adopts a new identity and becomes enmeshed in the city's underworld, slums, and criminal networks. Roberts spent nearly a decade researching the book, drawing on his own experiences in India and conversations with residents across Bombay's neighborhoods. The novel blends adventure, philosophical inquiry, and character study across nearly 1,000 pages of prose.

The narrative centers on a protagonist known as Lin who escapes from an Australian prison and flees to India, where he reinvents himself and becomes caught between multiple worlds - operating as a translator, a forger, a member of a criminal gang, and a reluctant participant in larger political and personal conflicts. Roberts explores themes of redemption, friendship, love, and the moral ambiguities of survival in circumstances of poverty and violence. The book draws heavily on real locations and actual figures from Bombay's history, though framed as a work of fiction.

Published in 2004 to significant critical attention, Shantaram has become known for its immersive portrayal of urban India and its philosophical undercurrents about identity and belonging. The novel appeals to readers seeking dense, character-driven literary fiction with international settings and complex moral landscapes.

• Author: Gregory David Roberts
• Published: 2004
• Setting: Bombay, India, 1980s
• Length: ~930 pages
• Genre: Literary fiction

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