Gregory David Roberts

Gregory David Roberts is an Australian author, songwriter, and artist, best known for his semi-autobiographical novel 'Shantaram'. Born in Melbourne, his life has been marked by significant turbulence, including a period of heroin addiction, armed robbery, and a daring escape from Pentridge Prison in 1980. He spent a decade as a fugitive in India, where he lived in Mumbai, established a free medical clinic for slum dwellers, and became involved with the local underworld. These experiences heavily influenced his writing. After being recaptured and serving the remainder of his sentence, he achieved international literary success. He currently resides in Jamaica, where he continues to create art and music.