Glorious Exploits
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Glorious Exploits
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Narrated by:
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Ferdia Lennon
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By:
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Ferdia Lennon
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
Listeners also enjoyed...
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)
What listeners say about Glorious Exploits
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- 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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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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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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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 21-02-25
Rich prose read beautifully
I had this book recommended by a colleague and am glad for it! Lennon’s writing is rich and enthralling, and I believe the comedic elements of the story are drawn out by his excellent reading style. I’m not usually one for reading historical fiction but this novel was both fun and hard-hitting, with a bittersweet storyline that kept my attention until the end.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Shenaling
- 16-09-24
Delighted to be proved wrong!
A beautifully crafted story with engaging characters you immediately slowly start to root for. Building in layers of tension, suspense, anticipation, laughter and love throughout this gorgeously narrated tale, my, but the Dublin accent really works! Could not stop listening, felt a little bereft when it ended. Well done Ferdia Lennon!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- E T-Watson
- 28-02-25
The affirmation of humanity through art
Gutted by the ending; what a truly original work. Such understanding of human nature’s hopes & weaknesses. A frustrating protagonist who yet I loved for his flaws, and whose strengths are his undoing.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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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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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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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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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 30-11-24
Great talen
Really enjoyed this book the narrator was fantastic loved the Irish accent . Sad but really interesting, would recommend this book
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- Ceej
- 09-02-25
A glorious book indeed
I didn’t particularly fancy this from the description but having given it a go, turns out I loved it perhaps more than any fiction book I’ve ever listened to. Absolutely gripped by the story which has moments of great joy and great pain. I’m so glad I listened to it rather than read it on the page as the narration and characterisation really made the story exceptional for me. Lampo, I’ll never forget you. Truly a wonderful, modern, fun, tragic and original work. Thank you x
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- rosie123
- 29-01-24
A joy
This is entrancing and a sheer delight from start to finish. I loved the portrayal of Lampo as a chancer but with fierce loyalty, determination and a true heart. The Irish accent was perfect to show that he was an 'ordinary bloke' whereas the 'aristos' all had 'posh' speech.
The next thing I liked was the brilliant prose, sometimes lyrical, befitting the telling of a brand new Greek myth, at other times straightforward storytelling in familiar language.
I also very much liked that I learned a lot about Eurypedes' stories and absolutely loved the way in which the story of the events in the quarry linked up with the old, famous tales.
I highly recommend the audiobook.
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