LoveReading Says
Oh my word, a unique slant in this debut historical novel ensures a fresh and contemporary feel. This take works successfully as the author, Ferdia Lennon, obviously knows his Greek history. It is 412BC, and thousands of Athenian soldiers are being held prisoner in the quarries of Syracuse after a failed attack. Two young local men decide to hold a performance with the Athenians centre stage. Lampo’s voice will offer an immediate resonance to some, and an unexpected note to others while thoroughly immersing you in the life of this Sicilian man. There is a certain irreverence on offer which only serves to highlight the brutality of war and man. I felt as though I was bearing witness, as though I was in the moment and very much a part of the tale. The sense of place is jaw-droppingly immense, the quarries achingly alive with the near-death state of the men being held there. Friendship is a key component to this story, along with the beauty, power, and transportive nature of art. Glorious Exploits is a thoroughly provocative read full of heartbreaking energy, which is why I’ve chosen this novel as a Liz Pick of the Month.
Liz Robinson
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Glorious Exploits Synopsis
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2024
'One of the most original and brilliant debuts in years' Irish Times
'Bold and totally unexpected ... I was hooked from the first page' Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie Bain
'Brilliant ... Hilarious, moving, and profound' R. F. Kuang, author of Yellowface
***
Ancient Sicily. Enter GELON: visionary, dreamer, theatre lover. Enter LAMPO: lovesick, jobless, in need of a distraction.
Imprisoned in the quarries of Syracuse, thousands of defeated Athenians hang on by the thinnest of threads.
They're fading in the baking heat, but not everything is lost: they can still recite lines from Greek tragedy when tempted by Lampo and Gelon with goatskins of wine and scraps of food.
And so an idea is born. Because, after all, you can hate the invaders but still love their poetry.
It's audacious. It might even be dangerous. But like all the best things in life - love, friendship, art itself - it will reveal the very worst, and the very best, of what humans are capable of.
What could possibly go wrong?
***
'Fierce, funny, fast-paced … Brings the ancient world roaring to life' Joanna Quinn, author of The Whalebone Theatre
'Love, war, poetry, reckless ambition, terrible failure, and glorious triumph … A delicious treat of a read. I loved it' Jon McGregor, author of Lean Fall Stand
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780241998007 |
| Publication date: |
23rd January 2025 |
| Author: |
Ferdia Lennon |
| Publisher: |
Penguin Books an imprint of Penguin Books Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
304 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Historical Fiction
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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