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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
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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 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.

Rich prose read beautifully

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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!

Delighted to be proved wrong!

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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.

The affirmation of humanity through art

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I cannot say how much I loved this. It was quite beautifully written and the detail was fantastic. I felt like I could have been there. Everyone in the story felt fully fleshed out. The pace was excellent and (unlike so many other audio books where I find the middle drags so much I just give up) this one kept me gripped. Wonderful.

Amazing story and performance! (Performed by the author)

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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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