Glorious Exploits
A tale of love, art, and resilience in ancient times
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Publishing:23rd Jan '25
£9.99
This title is due to be published on 23rd January, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£16.99(9780241617649)
Set in ancient Sicily, Glorious Exploits follows Gelon and Lampo as they use poetry to uplift defeated Athenians in dire circumstances.
In Glorious Exploits, the narrative unfolds in ancient Sicily, where two intriguing characters, Gelon and Lampo, navigate the complexities of life amid turmoil. Gelon is a visionary and a theatre lover, while Lampo, a lovesick and jobless individual, seeks a distraction from his mundane existence. Together, they find themselves in the quarries of Syracuse, where thousands of defeated Athenians cling to hope, reciting lines from Greek tragedies, even as their bodies weaken under the relentless sun.
The story takes a daring turn when Gelon and Lampo devise a plan to engage the imprisoned Athenians through the power of poetry and wine. This audacious idea not only serves as a form of escape but also highlights the enduring human capacity for creativity and connection, even in the direst of circumstances. As the characters delve deeper into their exploits, the narrative explores themes of love, friendship, and the duality of human nature—revealing both the best and worst within us.
Glorious Exploits is a vibrant tale that captures the essence of the ancient world while resonating with contemporary themes. It is a story that reminds us of the power of art and the indomitable spirit of humanity, making it a compelling read that will leave an impression long after the last page is turned.
One of the most original and brilliant Irish debuts in years * Irish Times *
'The debut novelist to watch ... Remarkable ... This debut is entertaining, vivid, original – and has a huge amount of fun turning the genre on its head ... The premise is irresistible ... Terrific ... A novel to be gulped down' * The i *
Bold and totally unexpected, I loved this book. A brilliant novel about friendship, the healing power of art, and why we must fight for our dreams. I was hooked from the first page * Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie Bain *
Immensely likeable ... Raucously funny ... The writing is beautifully controlled * The Observer *
Brilliant ... I love contemporary Irish fiction and Greek tragedy, so how wonderful to find a novel where they are brilliantly paired. It is as hilarious, moving, and profound as promised * Rebecca F. Kuang, author of Yellowface *
As thrilling for me as the first time I picked up a Kevin Barry novel. Glorious Exploits is exuberant, funny, lyrical and profoundly moving. It is, quite simply, a rare beauty * Sarah Winman, author of Still Life *
Glorious Exploits stinks of misery, despair, love, war, poetry, reckless ambition, terrible failure, and glorious triumph. It’s a novel thick with the stuff of the Classics, in other words. A delicious treat of a read. I loved it * Jon McGregor *
In At Swims-Two-Birds, Flann O'Brien gave us cowboys riding through Dublin. Now, Ferdia Lennon gives us modern-day Dubliners living among the ancient Greeks. This is a very special, very clever, very entertaining novel * Roddy Doyle *
One of the best debut novels of the year – it even received an award saying so – this is a ridiculously fun book…It's a poignant story about war, art, and friendship, while also being very funny * iPaper – The 30 best books for Christmas 2024 *
Funny, thoughtful, moving, brilliant * Nick Laird, Irish Sunday Independent *
ISBN: 9780241998007
Dimensions: 199mm x 130mm x 18mm
Weight: 204g
288 pages