Glorious Exploits A Novel
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, published by Henry Holt and Company on March 26, 2024, is a novel that intertwines humor and poignancy against the backdrop of the Peloponnesian War. Set on the island of Sicily, the story follows two potters, Lampo and Gelon, who, faced with the grim fate of Athenian prisoners of war, decide to stage a production of Euripides’ Medea. Their venture into the rock quarry, initially a light-hearted distraction, soon spirals into a series of unexpected and extraordinary events, highlighting the complexities of art and humanity during conflict.
Readers will find a narrative that explores themes of brotherhood and the transformative power of art in challenging times. As Lampo and Gelon navigate the risks of their theatrical endeavor, the story delves into the intersections of creativity and survival, revealing how even in the darkest moments, the human spirit can find expression. With 304 pages, this edition presents a contemporary Irish voice that is both riotously funny and deeply moving, offering a unique perspective on the enduring nature of art and friendship amidst adversity.
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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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