Gregory David Roberts

Infobox Writer


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name = Gregory David Roberts
caption = Gregory David Roberts 2007
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birthdate = June 1952
birthplace = Melbourne, Australia
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occupation = Novelist, short story writer, bank robber, poet, screenplay writer, and philosopher
nationality = Australian
period = 2003 - Present
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website = http://www.shantaram.com/

Gregory David Roberts (born June 1952 in Melbourne) is an Australian author, most noted for his novel "Shantaram". He was a heroin addict and convicted bank robber who escaped from Pentridge Prison and fled to India where he lived for ten years.

Early life

In 1978, Roberts was sentenced to 19 years imprisonment for a series of armed robberies of building-society branches, credit unions and shops, committed with a toy pistol while addicted to heroin. In a 3-month spree in 1977, armed with an imitation pistol, he netted about $38,000 from 24 armed robberies. [cite web |url= http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2003/s922049.htm |title= Building Society Bandit hits big time |accessdate=2008-09-21 |last= Gearin |first= Mary |coauthors= |date= 2003-11-08 |work= |publisher= ABC1] In July 1980, he escaped from Victoria’s maximum security prison in broad daylight to become one of Australia’s most wanted men. After briefly going to New Zealand, he lived in Mumbai, where he became involved with the local mafia, until 1990 when he was captured and imprisoned in Frankfurt. He was returned to Australia and served a further six years in prison, including two years in solitary confinement, during which time he began work on his novel. [cite web |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_4146000/4146087.stm |title= Greg Roberts' amazing story |accessdate=2008-09-21 |last= Husain |first= Mishal |coauthors= |date= 2004-01-05 |work= |publisher= BBC News Online]

Writing career

The novel, a thriller based on his experiences during his time spent in Mumbai, is titled "Shantaram", the character's name given to him by his best friend's mother, which means "Man of Peace," or "Man of God's Peace."Since completing "Shantaram", Roberts returned to Mumbai to live, and set up charitable foundations to assist the city's poor health care coverage. Roberts also wrote the original screenplay for the movie adaptation of "Shanataram" as well as the screenplay for the 2008 film, "Allegra". [cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=df074fc7-39d2-4ca0-860e-c259a1eba85e&&Headline=EMShantaram%2fEM+reloaded&strParent=strParentID |title= "Shantaram" reloaded |accessdate=2008-09-21 |last= Gehi |first= Reema |coauthors= |date= 2007-05-23 |work= |publisher= Hindustan Times]

Notes

References

* Roberts, Gregory David, (2003) "Shantaram" Carlton North, Vic. Scribe Publications ISBN 1920769005.
* Rule, Andrew & Silvester, John, "Underbelly 5".