"An original, fascinating, and focused novel that explores the brutality of war and brotherhood of men during the Peloponnesian War in 412BC. "
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.
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
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Winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction - Winner of the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize - Winner of the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award - Shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction - Shortlisted for Newcomer of the Year by the Irish Book Awards - Shortlisted for the Nero Book Awards Debut Fiction Prize - Shortlisted for the British Book Award for Debut Fiction Book of the Year - Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal of Excellence
Named a Best Book of 2024 by Slate, the Guardian, and the New York Public Library An utterly original celebration of that which binds humanity across battle lines and history. On the island of Sicily amid the Peloponnesian War, the Syracusans have figured out what to do with the surviving Athenians who had the gall to invade their city: they've herded the sorry prisoners of war into a rock quarry and left them to rot. Looking for a way to pass the time, Lampo and Gelon, two unemployed potters with a soft spot for poetry and drink, head down into the quarry to feed the Athenians if, and only if, they can manage a few choice lines from their great playwright Euripides. Before long, the two mates hatch a plan to direct a full-blown production of Medea. After all, you can hate the people but love their art. But as opening night approaches, what started as a lark quickly sets in motion a series of extraordinary events, and our wayward heroes begin to realize that staging a play can be as dangerous as fighting a war, with all sorts of risks to life, limb, and friendship. Told in a contemporary Irish voice and as riotously funny as it is deeply moving, Glorious Exploits is an unforgettable ode to the power of art in a time of war, brotherhood in a time of enmity, and human will throughout the ages.Glorious Exploits features in the following genres: Audiobooks of the Month, Debut Books of the Month, Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month, Recommendations, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Peloponnese, Narrative theme: Sense of place, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, Greece, Southeast Europe, Europe, Place qualifiers, Fiction: narrative themes, Literary Fiction
Glorious Exploits is available in Paperback, Hardback, Audiobook
Glorious Exploits was written by Ferdia Lennon and published by Holt Paperbacks an imprint of Henry Holt & Company
Glorious Exploits has 304 pages
£16.19
