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Glorious Exploits: A Novel

Ferdia Lennon

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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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GLORIOUS EXPLOITS Zoom Conversation

This Monday the 12th at 6pm ET

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Who’s begun their journey into ancient Syracuse with our July pick: GLORIOUS EXPLOITS? 👀

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The Inky Phoenix\ \ Kathryn Budig\ \ • Jul 1 2024

Our July pick is here and it is glorious indeed!

GLORIOUS EXPLOITS by Ferdia Lennon 💥

This might very well be a perfect book: the story takes place in Syracuse amid the Peloponnesian War where our Euripides-loving protagonists decide to make the Athenian prisoners put on a performance of Medea.

Told in a contemporary Irish voice, Lennon’s world is razor sharp in every way: from wit to observations on humanity to the power of art in a time of war. Also, it might have the best last line of any book I’ve ever read. (Don’t you DARE flip to that last page.)

As always, please pick up a copy from your local bookseller or library, and consider supporting our partner @bluebicyclebooks ! @bindery_books members have a discount there (available in our Inky Phoenix Discord).

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Posts about this book from across Bindery

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