Glorious Exploits A Novel
Glorious Exploits, a novel by Ferdia Lennon, is set to be published by Henry Holt and Company on March 25, 2025. This 304-page work, written in English, presents a unique narrative that unfolds on the island of Sicily during the Peloponnesian War. The story follows two potters, Lampo and Gelon, who, while imprisoned Athenians languish in a rock quarry, decide to stage a production of Euripides’ Medea. Their endeavor transforms from a whimsical distraction into a series of extraordinary events, highlighting the intersection of art and conflict.
Readers will find a blend of humor and poignancy as the characters navigate the complexities of staging a play amidst war. The narrative explores themes of brotherhood and the enduring power of art, even in dire circumstances. With elements of alternative history and a focus on literary traditions, Glorious Exploits offers a fresh perspective on the human experience during tumultuous times. This edition invites readers to engage with a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, reflecting on the resilience of the human spirit.
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Winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction
Winner of the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize
Winner of the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award
Shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction
Shortlisted for Newcomer of the Year by the Irish Book Awards
Shortlisted for the Nero Book Awards Debut Fiction Prize
Shortlisted for the British Book Award for Debut Fiction Book of the Year
Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal of Excellence
Named a Best Book of 2024 by Slate, the Guardian, and the New York Public Library
An utterly original celebration of that which binds humanity across battle lines and history.
On the island of Sicily amid the Peloponnesian War, the Syracusans have figured out what to do with the surviving Athenians who had the gall to invade their city: they’ve herded the sorry prisoners of war into a rock quarry and left them to rot. Looking for a way to pass the time, Lampo and Gelon, two unemployed potters with a soft spot for poetry and drink, head down into the quarry to feed the Athenians if, and only if, they can manage a few choice lines from their great playwright Euripides. Before long, the two mates hatch a plan to direct a full-blown production of Medea. After all, you can hate the people but love their art. But as opening night approaches, what started as a lark quickly sets in motion a series of extraordinary events, and our wayward heroes begin to realize that staging a play can be as dangerous as fighting a war, with all sorts of risks to life, limb, and friendship.
Told in a contemporary Irish voice and as riotously funny as it is deeply moving, Glorious Exploits is an unforgettable ode to the power of art in a time of war, brotherhood in a time of enmity, and human will throughout the ages.
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