Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon is a debut historical fiction novel set during the Peloponnesian War in ~400s B.C. Sicily (5/5 stars)

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon is a debut historical fiction novel set during the Peloponnesian War in ~400s B.C. Sicily.

Once I saw comparisons to O, Brother Where Art Thou and Monty Python, I knew I had to pick this one up, and I’m so glad I did. I borrowed the audiobook version, narrated by the author, from my local library and followed along in my physical ARC.

While the scene is set in the far past, the book is written in modern Irish vernacular, including slang. Two unemployed potters organize a group of Athenian prisoners (being kept alive on starvation rations) to stage two plays by Euripides.

I felt so many different emotions while reading this! Tragedy, hope, elation, sorrow, anxiety, etc. This is a very uplifting but tragic tale that really packs an emotional punch. “Tragicomedy” is a good description for it. AND THIS IS A DEBUT?!

I feel like I can’t really say much in this review except how this book is an experience you should try. If you like dry humor, and themes like friendship and loyalty, love and loss, and art appreciation, do not pass go and pick this up. And congrats to the author for winning the debut fiction prize from Waterstones!

The paperback ARC includes an epilogue that wasn’t included in the audiobook version. I’m so sad this didn’t make it into the final version, because it moved me emotionally even more than the rest of the book.

CW: torture (starvation), violence, murder

I received a copy of this book to review. Thank you to Henry Holt Books and NetGalley for the complimentary advanced reader copies. All opinions contained herein are my own.

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