"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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An exhilarating, fiercely original story of brotherhood, war and art, and of daring to dream of something bigger than ourselves.
It's 412 BC, and Athens' invasion of Sicily has failed catastrophically. Thousands of Athenian soldiers are held captive in the quarries of Syracuse, starving, dejected, and hanging on by the slimmest of threads.
Lampo and Gelon are local potters, young men with no work and barely two obols to rub together. When they take to visiting the nearby quarry, they discover prisoners who will, in desperation, recite lines from the plays of Euripides for scraps of bread and a scattering of olives.
And so an idea is born: the men will put on Medea in the quarry. A proper performance to be sung of down the ages. Because after all, you can hate the Athenians for invading your territory, but still love their poetry.
But as the audacity of their enterprise dawns on them, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between enemies and friends. As the performance draws near, the men will find their courage tested in ways they could never have imagined ...
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 Penguin Books an imprint of Penguin Books Ltd
Glorious Exploits has 277 pages
£9.89
