Glorious Exploits, is as is name suggests, a novel of oxymorons. And it works brilliantly.

Lennon takes an obscure, lesser known event from history and crafts something very special from it.

There’s moments of real bleakness and heartbreak pitted alongside moments of hope and tenderness. The world in which Lampo lives serves constant reminders of the brutal conflict and loss of the Peloponnesian wars. Yet the play he puts on with his friend, Gelon, becomes symbolic of hope and friendships, and the power of theatre.

Lennon infuses the novel with an Irish voice; creating an ancient world that feels modern and understandable. The result is historical fiction that has a contemporary edge, and is funny and authentic.

Glorious Exploits shines a light on classical history in a bold, fresh and contemporary way.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of the ARC.

Sometimes over hyped books are a disappointment... In this case, the hype is real. What a joy of a book! The Irish vernacular in ancient Syracuse shouldn't work, but actually REALLY does. Dialogue flows and at times is laugh out loud, but ultimately this is a Greek tragedy of brutal proportions. This has been my favourite book of 2024 and I really hope the author doesn't take 7 years to write his next!
Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC

Great historical read where the reader is both taken back to ancient Greece while also anchoring us in reality with the clever choice of language.

Ferdia Lennon's Glorious Exploits is a breath of fresh air in the realm of historical fiction. Set against the backdrop of the Peloponnesian War, this novel deftly blends ancient history with contemporary wit and verve.

The story follows a pair of unlikely heroes, Lampo and Gelon, as they navigate the complexities of war, friendship, and the power of storytelling. Lennon's masterful use of language brings these characters to life, their voices as authentic and engaging as if they were sitting beside you in your local pub. The novel's dialogue is sharp, witty, and often laugh-out-loud funny, a surprising counterpoint to the grim realities of war.

But Glorious Exploits is more than just a comedy. It's a poignant exploration of the human condition, examining themes of identity, morality, and the enduring power of art. Lennon's ability to seamlessly weave together humour, drama, and philosophical depth is truly remarkable.

The novel's unique perspective on the Athenian prisoners of war is both refreshing and thought-provoking. By focusing on the lives of these defeated soldiers, Lennon offers a compelling counter-narrative to the traditional heroic tales of war.

Glorious Exploits also stands out from the recent wave of historical retellings that often have a feminist slant (that I do adore, make no mistake) by offering a unique and refreshing perspective. Rather than focusing solely on female characters or reimagining historical events through a female lens, Lennon’s novel explores the male experience within a traditionally male-dominated historical context. By centring the narrative on two ordinary men caught up in extraordinary circumstances, the novel offers a comedic and thought-provoking commentary on masculinity, war, and the human condition.

Instead of challenging traditional gender roles head-on, Glorious Exploits subverts expectations through humour and character development, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and intellectually stimulating.

Glorious Exploits is a captivating read that will leave you wanting more. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to transport readers to distant lands and times, while still speaking to the heart of the human experience.

Whether you're a history buff or simply looking for a thrilling and entertaining read, Glorious Exploits is sure to delight.

What a brilliant book; it had me laughing the whole way through!

Set in Sicily in 412 BC, the Athenian soldiers are being held in quarries. Lampo and Gelon decide that they want to put on one of Euripides plays and so enlist the soldiers to take on the roles of the characters, It was like reading a comedy of errors with Lampo and Gelon not being the best directors and making lots of crazy decisions, especially with money, but it made for great reading. I loved the sense of brotherhood and irony throughout but also learning a little about a part of history I knew nothing about. Really worth reading, a great book.

412 BC - The Peloponnesian war.
We are in Syracuse, and we follow Gelon and Lampo. Mostly Lampo.
Plot 4
Characterisation 4.5
Prose 4 (I loved the Irish voice!)
Mood 4.5

In some ways, this was the perfect-length read, but I also wanted to see more layers, and a slightly different take (deeper, consistent) on some the themes and statements it was dealing with/making. It was a funny read.

It’s bonkers, it’s brilliant, absolutely wonderful. I laughed, cried, shuddered, cheered. The characters, especially Lampy, simply jumped from the page and demanded attention. I never thought I would be so entertained by Euripides but this is one hell of a story.

I cannot put into words how much I enjoyed this book. Every time I read the story, I am entertained by the writing style and enjoy it. From the characters to the plot, everything about this was great.

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.