What a fabulous book.
Initially I was drawn to it because it was ancient historical fiction and the retelling of a tale but this was much more than that, very much more than that.
Very well written, the narrator quietly drew me in from my initial response of , "really ? Not another feckless lead "( as an aside a regular feature of Irish literature) but had enough writing skills and mystery to keep me continuing. It was such a worthwhile read.
I missed and failed to be irritated by the " iris linguistics" because I felt the difference in language made a good point. . The leads were after all simply two young men, out of work potters, struggling to produce something they had only watched. In those circumstances they could not be literate ( or perhaps in Gelon's case , barely so ), but they were still were entranced by the feelings and language of the plays they had seen or heard. A point i had never really appreciated before. After all how much of literature first appeared as plays performed to an audience who could only watch and remember?
The plight of the Athenians, initially just a useful prop for the directorial ambitions of the characters , was bitter, close to obscene, the slave girl , with a history, and the sadness of those who had lost fathers , brothers and sons in the war was very carefully laid out and the reader allowed to make their own decisions .
This is an extremely intelligent look at the impact of war from all sides and very apposite to these difficult times.
I was left thinking is this book mystical ? It was written almost as a legend of its own . The man " Tin Isles" intervenes as the Greek gods are want to do in the lives of small people but was he just a wealthy man in the right place?
So many thoughts came out of this read that I cannot wait for a nother book from Ferdia.

I loved every part of Glorious Exploits, from its prickly characters to its tragic plot. Lennon’s style is a refreshing take on historical fiction; Lampo’s narration is almost modern, as much a 21st century boozer as a pot maker in ancient Syracuse. This book is equal parts funny and heartbreaking, and I’m excited to see what the author does next!

Funny and deeply moving, an unforgettable ode to the human need for art in the time of crisis
It’s an amusing story of brotherhood in the classical world
Loved how the dialogue had a modern feel and you’re just willing for the Athenians to have a happy ending but then this a Greek tragedy
Such an unique book - can see this being a booker prize winner
Thanks #ferdialennon @penguinfigtree & @netgalley for the unique read

I loved the set-up and the characterisation but I felt the pacing and the plotting were a bit lacking and the story followed a predictable path. Probably a first-novel problem - I'd be interested to see what the author does next.

This book is great and a lot of fun. If you like classics, especially Euripides then this is the book for you!

I'm familiar with the surprising fact that after the defeat of the Athenian army in Sicily, prisoners could trade lines of Euripides for extra rations or even freedom, because of the Sicilians' love of Euripides (thank you Natalie Haynes), so was pleased to read a novel about it. A fun read, with lots of humour and an Irish tone. I don't think it stands up to the quality of many other writers' takes on Greek histories (Natalie Haynes, Madeline Miller, Pat Barker, Claire North), but an easy read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review of the book.

This was a fun story set in the ancient world, with Athenian prisoners being tasked with performing Medea by two locals. I was initially unsure when I was first reading it, but the combination of the characters and the author’s compelling writing style made it one I couldn’t put down in the end! I found myself expecting a comedy but finding some sad and emotional parts near the end, which made for a really intriguing storyline. It’s a great one if you’re interested in ancient myths and ancient history but want something with more modern language and colloquialisms.

I laughed out loud and loved this humorous take on classic history, Greek tragedy and a story that makes ancient Greeks talk using Irish words.
Well plotted, original and extremely funny, go and read it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a really interesting you read. You can tell Lennon is a poet from the beauty of the writing, and I enjoyed the use of Hiberno-English throughout, as it made me consider our conceptualisation of the ancient world and how it is often mediated through the English of the romantic period, and assigned to a certain class. The use of vernacular made the characters feel alive and modern. I enjoyed the characterisation and the look at masculinity and power in the wake of conflict. The hatred felt towards the Athenians and the cruelty inflicted upon them was hard to read but well told. Ultimately I felt it was a little let down by the plot towards the end, which ramped up in a way that felt unearned, and the female characters were rathe flimsy, it it was an enjoyable reading experience.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I enjoyed this book way more than I expected to when I first picked it up. It's laugh out loud funny, but also surprisingly emotional and deals with sensitive topics in a delicate and mature way for a debut author. The use of an Irish voice to narrate the topic is a stroke of genius and really helps to ground the narrative in a sense of reality. It also illustrates male friendship in a particularly touching way.

Thank you @netgalley and @penguinfigtree for the ARC of this, it's taken me a little while to get round to the review.

Following Athens' failed attempts to invade Sicily, thousands of Athenians are imprisoned in a quarry with no food or water to waste away. Two locals, Lampo and Gelon, decide to throw a production of Medea, taking advantage of having a captive cast at their disposal.

The whole way through this book I kept thinking "they sound Irish. Why do they sound Irish". Turns out Lennon is from Dublin. While the story was compelling enough, I found the whole thing quite difficult to immerse myself in. The impulse to modernise the language and mannerisms of the characters is more than understandable but I couldn't get beyond the cognitive dissonance. Not my most favourite Greek inspired book I've read to date (hello song of Achilles, silence of the girls, how are you both) but definitely nice to read something that was a different take.

Sometimes you read a description of a novel and you feel like it was written for you so huge thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for giving me an ARC of this book. It takes place in the aftermath of the failed Athenian invasion of Sicily in 412 BCE, when thousands of Athenian soldiers were held captive in the island’s quarries and left to die. Lampo and Gelon are two local men, best friends with not much going for them since the pottery factory they were employed in was destroyed during the war. However, Gelon is a passionate fan of Athenian tragedy and so they spend their days going down to the quarry and offering scraps of food to any Athenian who can recite a few lines of Euripides. Eventually an idea takes shape, why not use the Athenian prisoners to stage a real Athenian tragedy in Sicily? Can hate be put aside for a communal experience of emotion and art? Glorious Exploits is a highly original whirlwind of a novel that deals with themes of war, grief, divinity and slavery while still being hysterically (in the original sense of the word) funny and cathartic. For me it truly captures the essence of ancient tragedy, the devastation and the ecstasy, the hope and the audacity, the knowing how it will end and praying it will end differently. Whether you’re a hardcore Euripides fangirl like me or you’re new to ancient tragedy or you just like a really bloody good story, this is for you.

An absolutely extraordinary debut novel. Glorious Exploits was written over several years, and the attention to detail shows: the story is set in 412 BC, after the disastrous attempted invasion of Sicily by Athens which sees thousands of captured Athenian soldiers left to die in scorching quarries just outside the city of Syracuse. Local potters and childhood friends Lampo and Gelon become gripped by the idea of using these doomed prisoners to put on a performance of Medea and The Trojan Women, two of the newest tragedies written by already-acclaimed Euripides. These works will be lost if Athens falls, as the world assumes it will at this point – but the imprisoned Athenians have seen these shows and many know the words by heart, reciting lines in exchange for food – so the potters see a chance to create art in the face of chaos and impossible odds. But will anyone actually come to see this ill-fated production, starring those who until very recently were busy slaughtering Syracusans?

Lampo is a sardonic, hugely real narrator who absolutely leaps off the page – his post-rehearsal scenes in the local bar feel so believable, and his confused, hasty decision-making will make you laugh out loud then wince when reality bites: you can’t help but hate and love him at the same moment. The post-conflict world he inhabits is incredibly brutal and physical, and the gritty, visceral reality of existing on the edge of these quarries, surrounded by those who’ve lost everything in the recent wars, is not hidden from view – but in the same moment this book is also strangely beautiful and hopeful, even in the face of such extreme atrocity. It leaves you wondering about the purpose of art, and friendship and love – and what it is that truly makes us human, regardless of which side we fight for. A painful, yet also deeply touching and absolutely unforgettable read which will win awards: get your copy now before everyone else does.

Featured in the January issue of Cambridge Edition magazine - digital version linked below

I was floored by this read! It was a privilege to follow alongside this story of two friends!
It was a story about art, love, friendship, as well as grief and loss, tragedy and what it means to be human. It poses such big questions that stick with you even after finishing this story, as will the characters themselves. A true delight to read!

This is a funny little book and one that I didn't think I was enjoying until, all of a sudden, I realised I loved it.

A story of two Syracusan potter-directors and a troupe of Athenian prisoner-actors putting on a production of MEDEA in a quarry. Why on earth would they do that? I hear you ask. And it's a good question. One I couldn't really answer until about half way through.

Is it to torture their prisoners? No, I don't think so.

Is it out of boredom? Maybe a little bit.

Is it because they were witnesses to a world with so very little humanity left that they wanted to remind everyone what it was to feel empathy? Yes, and because they have an unhealthy obsession with Euripedes.

A modern tale of an ancient story, filled with big ideas - how very Greek.

An unusual book. Ancient history tools in contemporary Irish speech. I’m not familiar with the history, or Waiting for Godot/Where Art Thou Brother, and yet I did recognise their influences. If you asked me what I liked about it, I would struggle to explain the hold this bookbook had over me - and yet I read it in large chunks, enjoying it. It gets under your skin and you’re never quite sure how, but it does. Lampo’s attachment to Paches and Lyra, and his actions after the play, speak to guess growth as a man. It definitely left an impression on me, and I’d recommend reading it. 4.25 stars.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

Glorious Exploits is hilarious, sad, horrific, brutal and, of course, glorious.

This is a story that shows the need for art even in a time of war and horror, and the importance of friendship, love, family and community.

Lampo, one of the two main characters leaps from the page in the way that he describes life in the city of Syracuse. He’s poor and uneducated, but he certainly has a lot to say! His venture with his best friend, Gelon, sees beyond the horrors that the Athenians must have committed - or perhaps he’s come to terms with what they’ve done - and he can see that their punishment doesn’t really fit their crime.

The Syracusans speak in the Irish vernacular, and what’s really strange, is that it doesn’t sound out of place (in my head, anyway!).

I laughed and cried whilst reading this. It really is a glorious read.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Viking/Penguin for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: death, violence, war, starvation, abuse, slavery

I can honestly say that I’ve never read a book like “Glorious Exploits” before and I doubt I’ll ever read one like it again. Set after the failed Athenian expedition of 412 BC in Syracuse (Sicily) during the Peloponnesian War, “Glorious Exploits” follows Lampo and his friend Gelon- both men who’ve lived through the invasion- as they do their daily visit down to the prisoners of war in the quarry. The Athenians have been down there for months and some of the satisfaction in seeing their enemies brought down so low is starting to fade as the men starve to death, especially for Gelon who worships Athenian theatre- particularly the work of Euripides. Lampo and Gelon don’t have much, they’re potters with no work and no money, but Lampo can never say no to Gelon when he has one of his ideas, and this new one will be defining for both of them. Realising he can get the Athenian prisoners to recite lines in exchange for good quality food, Gelon makes a declaration: within the quarry, they’re going to stage a performance of the play Medea using the prisoners. Lampo soon finds himself thrust into the life of a director, collecting food for the enemy and helping Gelon to realise his vision of Athenian theatre in Syracuse with the assistance of now fatherless children and others in the community. After Gelon finds out about another play, The Trojan Women, that is believed to be Euripides’ last, he decides they’re going to perform that as well- because who knows how much longer Athenian theatre will last? It soon becomes apparent that what they’re trying to do could be legendary and the prisoners become more like friends than enemies, as long as the furious, grieving locals don’t find out. However, as things escalate, the performance gets closer and tensions rise, the value and impact of art and literature becomes all the more clear, even if it is written by Athenians. At the same time, Lampo falls in love with the slave girl Lyra who works at the tavern, which leads him to realise the kind of man he wants to be, even if it means challenging everything he thought he believed in.

One of the first things that I loved about this book is that it’s written in a contemporary, Irish voice despite its setting of ancient Sicily in the middle of the Peloponnesian War. The sense of humour and atmosphere is completely at odds with the situation, thousands of men dying as prisoners in a quarry after a failed invasion, but somehow it works. This is a brutal, violent and stark story of war and anger but also one about the beauty and brotherhood found in art, and how love can transcend barriers. It’s hugely funny, Lampo’s voice is so original and vivid (and crude) as he narrates the difficulties of trying to stage an illegal play in a prison (I loved the scene where, when given a pouch of more money he’s ever seen in his life, Lampo went insane spending instead of buying food). Gelon’s character touched me so much, he adores the work of the Athenians and his belief in carrying on their work affects the whole novel, especially when it becomes clearer to Lampo just how much it means to him. This book won’t be for everyone, it’s too different for that, but it also doesn’t require historical background knowledge to be hugely effective as a book. I’m so glad I read “Glorious Exploits” because, despite its subject, it’s still a hopeful and beautiful story at heart.

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon.
Thanks to Penguin General for sending me this book to review.

Love the cover!
Love the fact this book is set in ancient Greece because I only have a degree and masters in classical studies Latin.

Not that you need those to read and enjoy this book but it did bring me back many years to the Classics Department of U.C.D...Good times...

Back to the book!
This is a debut novel by Irish author, Ferdia Lennon. He also did a Classics degree so he knows it.

The book is set in 412 BC, and Athens' invasion of Sicily has failed . Thousands of Athenian soldiers are captured and held in the quarries of Syracuse, starving to death there.

In comes our protagonists, Lampo and Gelon with Lampo beiing the narrator. They are potters from the area and they love Greek tragedies for some reason I was unable to make out or connect with!
The dialogue is spot on and the irish dialect in an Ancient Greek setting works extremely well, there is a brilliant sense of craic and humour throughout.
They find out the poor, dejected Athenians will recite lines from Greek tragedies to get fed so the two lads set about putting on Medea.

I found this book very hard to get into. I was not feeling it so I also listened to it on audible as I read. This helped immensely. Ferdia narrates this wonderfully and if you are going to read this, try it on audible as his accent just works!

There is a lot of swearing in this book and at times too much for the story.

But, it has a good energy to it and is written very well. I love the parts where Lampo finds love and his friendship and bond with Gelon shines.

I think if you are not interested in this part of Ancient Greek history you may not be drawn to this. It is quite a masculine (Can I say that!?) cursing, fighting, boozing type of book that may isolate some readers. It is hard not to like the book.

#rozzie
#netgalley
#gloriousExploits
#ferdialennon

421 bce and the great Athenian conquest of Sicily has failed. Now the remnants of the army are kept confined in a quarry outside Syracuse and are starving to death. Gelon, an unemployed potter, is a Euripides obsessive and decides to put on a performance of Medea for the people of his city with a cast drawn from the prisoners. He encourages his best friend Lampo to assist him alongside a backer in the form of mysterious merchant Tuireann and the help of the local children. Lampo, meanwhile, has fallen for the slave of a bar owner and he is desperately trying to raise the money to buy her freedom.
I am often skeptical of books which have received such glowing reviews as this one but I was more than pleasantly surprised here. I loved the passion for Euripides and the knowledge of classical Greek civilisation and cultural - that should make the reader think that they are going to be reading a worthy and intellectual book. That's not to say that this isn't, but it wears it's learning hidden in plain sight. What is on the surface is a madcap plot, written in modern Irish idiom and populated by engaging characters. Fabulous at every level.