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Glorious Exploits

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Glorious Exploits

By: Ferdia Lennon
Narrated by: Ferdia Lennon
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.


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?

‘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

©2024 Ferdia Lennon (P)2024 Penguin Audio

©2024 Ferdia Lennon (P)2024 Penguin Audio Ancient Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Funny Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Witty

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Critic reviews

'Madly ambitious, cathartic like all great tragedy, but shockingly funny too, Ferdia Lennon's outstandingly original début is just glorious.' (Emma Donoghue, author of Room)

'A very special, very clever, very entertaining novel.' (Roddy Doyle, author of Paddy Clarke, Ha Ha Ha)
All stars
Most relevant  
I disliked nothing. I loved everything. The characters were very believable and I found it easy to conjure up images of them in my mind as I was listening.

The use of modern day language in a strong Dublin accent was a boss idea. Superb narration. Can't wait for his second book.

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I loved this book, like a Greek tragedy, funny but intense. No suner one in laughing when a very intense episode occours. One will be move by the story

Original

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This is the best book I have read in a long time., The storyline was so unusual and so well ‘handled’. Not a single word is wasted and the description makes it so easy to envelope yourself into the world described. I loved the main character and the narration by the author. Would thoroughly recommend.

So different

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Loved it! Totally fresh approach to historical novel. Moving, interesting characters and a story line that sucks you in.

Beautiful writing, pitch perfect narration.

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Depth, humanity, amazing
This honestly is amazing. It captures the most basic of human wants, desires, and reality’s

Depth, humanity, amazing

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This book is a joy to read. From the summary I thought it would be I thought this would be a struggle both implausible and very dry but in fact the story is so moving at time’s mixed with humour A wonderful book

Brilliant!

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It is such a clever idea for a novel to move a very Irish story and set it in Syracuse works so brilliantly well.

Audiobook is a must as his voice really adds to the feel.

Beautiful, funny, tragic and clever

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I loved this book. Very different to anything I've read in recent years....the dark humour...the unique spin on having the main characters speak in a Dublin dialect, the beauty of the writing...a true gem.

A unique take on the historical fiction genre

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One of the most unique books I have ever read (well listened to). While set in Ancient Syracuse, this tale has modern Dublin at its heart. A must read/listen.

As moving as it is entertaining

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Really enjoyed this book the narrator was fantastic loved the Irish accent . Sad but really interesting, would recommend this book

Great talen

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