Glorious Exploits

A Novel

De: Ferdia Lennon

Narrado por: Ferdia Lennon

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.

©2024 Ferdia Lennon (P)2024 Random House Audio

Astonishing.

Incredible well written and performed by Ferris Lennon. My heart is just aching for so many different reasons at the end. Lampo is such an incredible idiot - I love him so much!

Totally original, deeply moving

In a time of cookie cutter repeated themes and tropes and ridiculously poorly written books, this truly stands out. No carbon copy or another light historical fiction it is a triumph of imagination based on historical realities but focusing on the experiences of the marginalized. It is sometimes excruciating to listen to - going from comedy to tragedy, good to despair, and a heartfelt reminder of the importance of common humanity and theater that creates bonds between people.

Funny, Touching, Historical fiction

The story offers a glimpse into the lives of common people in ancient Greece, highlighting their loves, hates, and humour, all through a unique and fitting narration.

Outstanding narration

Such an inventive piece of historical fiction. I wanted to read this as an audiobook to see how the narrator tackled this interesting challenge, and was not disappointed- outstanding narration (by the author, no less) brought so much additional depth to the characters and story.

This book gave me feels

Altho there is short (i hope) fragment missing at the end of chapter 25, I wish to know what happened there.

Modern ode to Tragedy

Brilliant in many ways, from the unassuming grandeur of what unfolds to the subtle technique by which the author carries his protagonist’s metamorphosis and sets up a tragedy as gentle as it is inevitable. The performance of the narrator is sublime - rarely do you hear a character starting off so inauspiciously and maturing over the course of 32 chapters the way this one does.

Story within a story. Excellent voice skills.

Loved the idea of the plays within the main story. Main character Lampo’s story could have been a bit more to it. Love the imagery. Beautiful writing style.

Great book!

I liked the story and the length. It was Irish by way of Ancient Greece. The I thought the author’s performance was the weakest part, but it was a very interesting and compelling book.

Unique

This is a very unique book. I can’t believe it’s a debut. I finished it within a day and I know I will be thinking about it for a long time. I’m also shocked at the author’s narration skills.

One of the best books of recent time

"Glorious Exploits" is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read or listened to. Read by the author, it really comes alive. Heartbreaking and inspiring by turns, it is very like the ancient Greek tragedies which form the underpinnings of the story. The germ of the story is a tale told by Plutarch in his "Life of Nicias," the Athenian general who led the disastrous Sicilian expedition in 415 BC. "Some also were saved for the sake of Euripides. For the Sicilians, it would seem, more than any other Hellenes outside the home land, had a yearning fondness for his poetry." I hope that the author, Ferdia Lennon, who has a degree in the classics, will follow this wonderful first novel with many more stories about ancient Greece.