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A review by marianneiriss
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As a lover of Euripides and the classical playwrights, I thought this book was a fantastic modern tribute to them, highlighting the intersections between politics, war, ethics, and drama in the classical world.
Whilst it is true that there is a lot of “Greek mythology retellings” around at the moment, I would not put Glorious Exploits in this category! Yes, it is a historical novel, and is set in classical Greece, but there are not the magical elements which feature in many of the recent myth retellings - other than as part of the character’s religious belief systems and within the plays mentioned.
Having read other reviews of this book, this seems to be an unpopular opinion but I really loved the use of Irish dialect for the native Syracusan characters. I thought it illustrated the differences between the upper class/educated Athenian prisoners and the free but impoverished Syracusans. Additionally, since most surviving writings from the classical world are (of course) by the educated and literate, I loved that this book gave the perspective of the people that are missed out from those stories - the poor, illiterate, enslaved, and lower class, and the use of vernacular was a poignant reminder of this.
I’ve tried to only discuss the themes of this book in this review, since I don’t want to spoil it, but I will just add that I thought the plot was interesting, well written, and thought-provoking. Being from the UK and having a particular interested in Bronze Age Britain I also loved the inclusion of a character being from the ‘Tin Isles’!
Overall, 5 stars, and will be making it into my favourite books of the year - thanks so much Penguin and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this, and I can’t wait for it to be released so I can talk more about it’s plot/writing in depth.
Whilst it is true that there is a lot of “Greek mythology retellings” around at the moment, I would not put Glorious Exploits in this category! Yes, it is a historical novel, and is set in classical Greece, but there are not the magical elements which feature in many of the recent myth retellings - other than as part of the character’s religious belief systems and within the plays mentioned.
Having read other reviews of this book, this seems to be an unpopular opinion but I really loved the use of Irish dialect for the native Syracusan characters. I thought it illustrated the differences between the upper class/educated Athenian prisoners and the free but impoverished Syracusans. Additionally, since most surviving writings from the classical world are (of course) by the educated and literate, I loved that this book gave the perspective of the people that are missed out from those stories - the poor, illiterate, enslaved, and lower class, and the use of vernacular was a poignant reminder of this.
I’ve tried to only discuss the themes of this book in this review, since I don’t want to spoil it, but I will just add that I thought the plot was interesting, well written, and thought-provoking. Being from the UK and having a particular interested in Bronze Age Britain I also loved the inclusion of a character being from the ‘Tin Isles’!
Overall, 5 stars, and will be making it into my favourite books of the year - thanks so much Penguin and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this, and I can’t wait for it to be released so I can talk more about it’s plot/writing in depth.