Glorious Exploits cover art

Glorious Exploits

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Glorious Exploits

By: Ferdia Lennon
Narrated by: Ferdia Lennon
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.


Ancient Sicily. Enter GELON: visionary, dreamer, theatre lover. Enter LAMPO: lovesick, jobless, in need of a distraction.

Imprisoned in the quarries of Syracuse, thousands of defeated Athenians hang on by the thinnest of threads.

They’re fading in the baking heat, but not everything is lost: they can still recite lines from Greek tragedy when tempted by Lampo and Gelon with goatskins of wine and scraps of food.

And so an idea is born. Because, after all, you can hate the invaders but still love their poetry.

It’s audacious. It might even be dangerous. But like all the best things in life – love, friendship, art itself – it will reveal the very worst, and the very best, of what humans are capable of.

What could possibly go wrong?

‘One of the most original and brilliant debuts in years’ Irish Times

‘Bold and totally unexpected ... I was hooked from the first page’ Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie Bain

‘Brilliant ... Hilarious, moving, and profound’ R. F. Kuang, author of Yellowface

©2024 Ferdia Lennon (P)2024 Penguin Audio

©2024 Ferdia Lennon (P)2024 Penguin Audio Ancient Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Feel-Good Funny Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Witty

Listeners also enjoyed...

 Widow's Welcome cover art

Critic reviews

'Madly ambitious, cathartic like all great tragedy, but shockingly funny too, Ferdia Lennon's outstandingly original début is just glorious.' (Emma Donoghue, author of Room)

'A very special, very clever, very entertaining novel.' (Roddy Doyle, author of Paddy Clarke, Ha Ha Ha)
Most relevant  
I disliked nothing. I loved everything. The characters were very believable and I found it easy to conjure up images of them in my mind as I was listening.

The use of modern day language in a strong Dublin accent was a boss idea. Superb narration. Can't wait for his second book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved this book. Very different to anything I've read in recent years....the dark humour...the unique spin on having the main characters speak in a Dublin dialect, the beauty of the writing...a true gem.

A unique take on the historical fiction genre

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
One of the most unique books I have ever read (well listened to). While set in Ancient Syracuse, this tale has modern Dublin at its heart. A must read/listen.

As moving as it is entertaining

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really enjoyed this book the narrator was fantastic loved the Irish accent . Sad but really interesting, would recommend this book

Great talen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I can’t remember when I last came across a new book I loved as much as this. Funny, voicey, lyrical, brutal, profoundly affecting, compelling. I’ve cried several times and neglected tasks I was meant to be doing because I didn’t want to stop listening. The prose is gorgeous but also clear, direct, fresh and engaging. Read by the author, who brings to life the characters with great skill. An uncommonly wonderful book.

Outstanding. A beautiful book beautifully read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is my kind of book, think of an Irish Hans Solo in ancient Syracuse, relating a tale. The best book I've read in a long time about the horrors of war and slavery, the transformative power of theatre and the importance of friendship. Now I need to find a copy of Euripides' plays.

Such a good audiobook

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I had this book recommended by a colleague and am glad for it! Lennon’s writing is rich and enthralling, and I believe the comedic elements of the story are drawn out by his excellent reading style. I’m not usually one for reading historical fiction but this novel was both fun and hard-hitting, with a bittersweet storyline that kept my attention until the end.

Rich prose read beautifully

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A beautifully crafted story with engaging characters you immediately slowly start to root for. Building in layers of tension, suspense, anticipation, laughter and love throughout this gorgeously narrated tale, my, but the Dublin accent really works! Could not stop listening, felt a little bereft when it ended. Well done Ferdia Lennon!

Delighted to be proved wrong!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Gutted by the ending; what a truly original work. Such understanding of human nature’s hopes & weaknesses. A frustrating protagonist who yet I loved for his flaws, and whose strengths are his undoing.

The affirmation of humanity through art

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I cannot say how much I loved this. It was quite beautifully written and the detail was fantastic. I felt like I could have been there. Everyone in the story felt fully fleshed out. The pace was excellent and (unlike so many other audio books where I find the middle drags so much I just give up) this one kept me gripped. Wonderful.

Amazing story and performance! (Performed by the author)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews