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Glorious Exploits
- Narrated by: Ferdia Lennon
- Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
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. With not much to fill their time, they take to visiting the nearby quarry, where they discover prisoners who will, in desperation, recite lines from the plays of Euripides in return 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 performance draws near and the audacity of their enterprise dawns on them, it becomes difficult to distinguish between enemies and friends. And Lampo, whose ambitions have never stretched beyond having enough coin for the next jug of wine, finds his aspirations elevated, his heart entangled and his courage tested in ways he could never have imagined.
Glorious Exploits is an exhilarating and fiercely original story of brotherhood, war and art; and - in the face of the Gods' apparent indifference - of daring to dream of something bigger than ourselves.
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)
'Bold and totally unexpected, I loved this book.' (Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie Bain)
'A very special, very clever, very entertaining novel.' (Roddy Doyle, author of Paddy Clarke, Ha Ha Ha)
What listeners say about Glorious Exploits
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- catherine callanan
- 12-05-24
Rich characters, funny, poignant and wonderfully read by author. A must read.
Not at all what I expected. An ancient Greek Tragedy, told in modern language with a Dublin accent. Kept me engaged from beginning to end. A wonderful read.
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- Mrs. R. M. R. Collier
- 31-08-24
Original, bittersweet, utterly gripping
As a teacher of Classics and an avid reader of contemporary literature, particularly anything written by an Irish author, I was excited to add this to my listening list. It certainly did not disappoint. I actually think this is a book that should be listened to rather than read because the author’s brogue beautifully conveys the tone and spirit of his words. It’s a refreshing difference from so much of the recent work that has been written reimagining classical stories, which typically adopts the underrepresented, female perspective. Here, though, we have a story of two Syracusan men, very contrasting characters, close friends who embark upon what seems like a doomed mission to put on two Euripides plays with a cast of starving Athenian prisoners in the quarries at Syracuse in 412 BC after the disastrous defeat of the Athenian Sicilian expedition. It’s intelligently researched and beautifully told - funny, sad and informative in equal measure. There are laugh-out-loud moments and also bits that make you gasp. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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- Amazon Customer
- 20-03-24
Such a good audiobook
This is my kind of book, think of an Irish Hans Solo in ancient Syracuse, relating a tale. The best book I've read in a long time about the horrors of war and slavery, the transformative power of theatre and the importance of friendship. Now I need to find a copy of Euripides' plays.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Helen
- 27-01-24
Outstanding. A beautiful book beautifully read
I can’t remember when I last came across a new book I loved as much as this. Funny, voicey, lyrical, brutal, profoundly affecting, compelling. I’ve cried several times and neglected tasks I was meant to be doing because I didn’t want to stop listening. The prose is gorgeous but also clear, direct, fresh and engaging. Read by the author, who brings to life the characters with great skill. An uncommonly wonderful book.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Rebecca Doyle
- 08-02-24
A unique take on the historical fiction genre
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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- K. Clarkin
- 21-01-24
As moving as it is entertaining
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Aurora Aleson
- 17-02-24
Original
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
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1 person found this helpful
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- Simon
- 16-08-24
Beautiful, funny, tragic and clever
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.
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- Shedman
- 27-02-24
A stunningly brilliant debut only slightly marred by poor audio quality
This is one of the highest-flying books by a new author I’ve ever read. The genius of combing ancient Syracuse with modern Dublin voices is utterly brilliant and creates multilayered echoes of conquest. colonisation and cruelty. I can’t recommend this author and this book highly enough.
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- graham robinson
- 19-08-24
Harrowing yet heart warming
A fabulous story, beautifully read. It’s a really unique plot and a book that I came to it with no expectations only that it had been recommended by our local bookshop. I’d certainly say give it a listen if you love reading / listening and want to lose yourself in a tale for a few hours.
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