Song of Achilles, The
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“At once a scholar’s homage to The Iliad and startlingly original work of art by an incredibly talented new novelist….A book I could not put down.”
—Ann Patchett
“Mary Renault lives again!” declares Emma Donoghue, author of Room, referring to The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller’s thrilling, profoundly moving, and utterly unique retelling of the legend of Achilles and the Trojan War. A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived and executed page-turner, Miller’s monumental debut novel has already earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction’s brightest lights—and fans of Mary Renault, Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, and Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series will delight in this unforgettable journey back to ancient Greece in the Age of Heroes.
Reader reviews
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1 - 4 of 4 reviews
I really enjoyed this reimagining of the story of Achilles. I was only familiar with the story of the Illiad in broad strokes. I have read other reviews where people felt upset that she imagined it differently than the way they understood the Illiad, but I just read a really good story where old characters were given new life and depth.
The author is a great story teller. She combines history, myth and folktales into a compelling love story from a unique perspective. A very enjoyable read to get lost into for a few days.
A very effective retelling of the Trojan conflict centering on the relationship between the Greek hero Achilles and his companion Patroclus, told from the point of view of the latter. Miller certainly provides ample backstory to make believable the famous insatiable rage of Achilles after the Trojan Hector kills Patroclus. The most sympathetic character by far is Patroclus himself, whereas Achilles comes off as too perfect (except when he's sulking). Miller makes plain the latent traditional homoeroticism.
This book so beautifully written and integrative of a variety of Greek myths. A must read, have recommended it to countless friends who also enjoyed.
So amazingly clear and beautiful and a monument to writing
