A Norwich author has been shortlisted for a major literary prize.

Ferdia Lennon is a nominee for this year's Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize.

Dublin-born Ferdia is one of the nominees in the third year of a contest voted for by the retailer's customers.

His novel, Glorious Exploits, is set in Sicily during 412 BC. It tells the story of two locals and a group of captured Athenian soldiers as they cast one of Euripides’ greatest tragedies and is described as "a riotously funny tribute to the transformative power of art".

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Ferdia, a University of East Anglia prose fiction master's graduate, said: "It's simply wonderful.  I feel the track record this prize has already established in terms of the calibre of its previous years' shortlists means that it is truly an honour to be nominated.

"The fact that the books are selected by Waterstones booksellers makes it extra special as I know how important the recommendations of passionate booksellers have been in helping me discover writers and books that I love.”

The winner will be announced on July 25 and will receive a prize of £5,000 and the backing of Waterstones.