Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon - 5 stars (BWF)

[Joy D]

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon - 5* - My Review

“I have a feeling that the future and the past aren’t separate at all, just different snatches of a single song always sung, given consequence when heard.”

Set in 412 BC in Sicily during the Peloponnesian War, seven thousand captured Athenians are imprisoned in a quarry after failing to conquer Syracuse. They are starving and dying of exposure. Syracusans Lampo and his friend Gelon wander among the prisoners, offering sustenance to anyone who can quote Euripides’ Medea. They find former Athenian actors among the soldiers, which leads them to the idea of staging the play. The storyline follows their preparations and subsequent events, and includes elements of both humor and tragedy.

Ferdia Lennon has incorporated the Irish vernacular into the dialogue, which worked remarkably well once I got used to it. There is not much of a plot, but it flows well. The characters are nicely rendered, especially the friendship between Lampo and Gelon. These two carry the narrative arc. It is an unusual story containing meditations on the impact of war on individual lives and the importance of the arts to humanity. It is a wonderful debut, and I look forward to seeing what this author may write next.

PBT October BWF Extra L - fits letter not tag

[Robin P]

I have this on my wish list for audio, glad to hear you liked it!

[Joy D]

Thanks Robin. Hope you enjoy it!

[Joanne]

I am not sure I could read the book, because of the Irish vernacular, the heavy brogue somehow does not penetrate my mind. However, I love that quote you opened with, and the story does sound very interesting.