Biography & Memoir· Australia
Shantaram
by Gregory David RobertsAggregate Editorial Score44/100
Oprah's Book Club
Published 2003940 pagesEnglish
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Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts is a landmark work of biography & memoir, first published in 2003. An escaped Australian convict finds himself in the Mumbai underworld, a village, and Afghanistan, guided by a larger-than-life character named Khaderbhai. Roberts's autobiographical novel is a sprawling, vivid portrait of India's underworld and one man's search for redemption. Themes of India, Mumbai, redemption run through the work. The book has received recognition from Oprah's Book Club 2003.
Book Details
About the Category
✍️ Biography & Memoir
True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.
Explore all Biography & Memoir books →Country of Origin
🇦🇺 Australia
This book is part of Australia's rich literary tradition.
Explore books from Australia →Editorial Assessment
Gregory David Roberts published Shantaram in 2003, and it has since become one of the more widely recognised works of biography & memoir from Australia. The book's treatment of India, Mumbai, redemption, crime accounts for much of its enduring reputation.
Critics and institutions have consistently placed Shantaram among the notable works of its period. Among its recognitions: Oprah's Book Club 2003. Our aggregate score of 44/100 is compiled from 1 editorial sources that range from Nobel and Booker committees to leading literary journals.
What distinguishes Shantaram is how it handles its central concerns — India, Mumbai, redemption, crime — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it.
Within Australia's literary landscape, Gregory David Roberts occupies a significant position. Shantaram is both a personal artistic statement and a contribution to a tradition shaped by the country's history and cultural concerns.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.
Awards & Recognition
Oprah's Book Club
list · national
200322
Gregory David Roberts is a celebrated author from Australia known for influential works of biography memoir.
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