A solid copy of the true 1st printing of the 1st edition of this internationally acclaimed epic debut novel from Australian author and former bankrobber/escaped convict Gregory David Roberts. A semi-autobiographical tale, which he started writing in prison, this is the first in a planned 4-book series. His 2nd book 'The Mountain Shadow ' was published in 2015.
Warner Bros. paid $2m for the rights to the screenplay of the book - also written by the author - in 2004/5 with the plan to have Johnny Depp feature in the lead role; that movie has still to be made. The book has, however, been successfully adapted for a 12-part Apple TV series, which was shown in late 2022, starring Charlie Hunnam.
'Shantaram ' published by Scribe in Melbourne in 2003, 1st edition (published ahead of the UK edition), large modern hardback, (viii) + 936 pages.
This copy meets all of the issue points required to identify as the true 1st printing, namely: (1) The copyright page states: 'First Published in Australia and New Zealand by Scribe Publications 2003' (there are no numbers indicating a print run); (2) the correct author photo appears on the DJ, featuring the author in a white shirt (another photo was substituted in later reprints); (3) the word SCRIBE on the inside rear DJ flap is not contained in brackets, as is the case in the reprints; and (4) the word MELBOURNE appears on the rear inside DJ flap in this first state DJ (it does not appear in the reprints).
Internally in at least very good condition, no ownership inscriptions (light dealer pencil notes on endpaper), the pages are clean and tidy save for a handful of light creases to a bottom corner, the book has been slightly over-extended at the title page.
Externally in good+ condition, storage wear/pushing at spine ends & gutter ends, light edgewear and light bumping to upper corners, the book is squarely bound but the spine cloth is a little slack with quite a gap between that and the upper headband of the text block, as a result the top of the text block slopes down/drops slightly (see photos). Always a possible issue with a book of this weight.
Dustjacket in about good+ condition, light surface wear, closed tear of 1.5 in. at junction of the front lower corner and front inner flap, with one of just under 1 in. at the similar junction of rear upper corner and rear inner flap, assorted creases and crinkles at spine ends and along edges, now housed in a removable protective plastic sleeve.
** This is quite a hefty book at 1.25kg unpacked **
A novel of high adventure, great
storytelling and moral purpose, based on an extraordinary true story of
eight years in the Bombay underworld
'In
the early 80s, Gregory David Roberts, an armed robber and heroin
addict, escaped from an Australian prison to India, where he lived in a
Bombay slum. There, he established a free health clinic and also joined
the mafia, working as a money launderer, forger and street soldier. He
found time to learn Hindi and Marathi, fall in love, and spend time
being worked over in an Indian jail. Then, in case anyone thought he was
slacking, he acted in Bollywood and fought with the Mujahedeen in
Afghanistan...
Amazingly, Roberts wrote Shantaram
three times after prison guards trashed the first two versions. It's a
profound tribute to his willpower... At once a high-kicking, eye-gouging
adventure, a love saga and a savage yet tenderly lyrical fugitive
vision.' Time Out
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