“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 … 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.
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I balled my eyes out after finishing. Still hurts.
Another great read from Madeline Miller. If I had to choose a favorite, I’d pick Circe, but both of her works are truly fantastic and well worth it for fans of fantasy or Greek mythology alike.
Song of Achilles is a recounting of the story of the relationship between the golden demi-god Achilles and human Patroclus, their love evolving since their boyhood. The book is great in itself, but one can see the roots of Miller’s even greater novel Circe—the writing techniques and themes, the convincing portrayals of the gods and goddesses, …
I enjoy historical fiction that recreates a time and place.
I have book hangover. I cannot write a review with book hangover.
I can tell you to RUN AND GET THIS BOOK AND READ IT IMMEDIATELY.
And the narration is simply one of the best I have listened to.
Wow.
Now I am off to my corner to cry and whimper for awhile should anyone need me. Please bring chocolate and coffee if you do come.
Miller does it again! I LOVED her whimsical, imaginative tale of Achilles, Patroclus, and Briseis. Her story is wonderful – her prose are lovely and her characters come to life on the pages. If you enjoyed Circe, you won’t be disappointed with this one.
I was late getting around to reading this novel, but I’m glad I finally got there. It’s a pretty neat trick, being faithful to an ancient legend and at the same time utterly original, but the author has done exactly that. A new take on a very old story, and characters who are worth getting to know. Now moving on to her other books…
Madeline Miller’s, The Song of Achilles—the Trojan War classic told from a unique viewpoint—was such an amazing read. Miller’s portrayal expertly depicts the toll of war, the destructive power of pride and ego, and tells the tale of a coming of age bond and of a love that ultimately transcends life. Madeline’s style and prose gave war and its …
Being Greek myself I was taught this story during school. This version was far darker and bloodier than the one I was taught. The characters were great, the Greek words were thankfully correct. And although I knew from the beginning how it was gonna end, I found the ending brilliant and very touching. I honestly don’t have anything bad to say …
The Song of Achilles retells the story of Achilles from the point of view of his lover, Patroclus. With all the verve of Mary Renault, Miller gives new life to the Iliad as well as developing a sweet, tender love story between the two men.
As a child, I read the Greek myths avidly, though they are told in a distant omniscient point of view and …
Madeline Miller writes so beautifully. I love her historical stories. This one was emotionally intense and good but it didn’t mesmerize me like Circe did. I listened to the audio book. It’s narrated by Frazer Douglas. He did such a great job reading it. His voice is very soothing, clam and soft. I can’t wait to see what story Madeline Miller …
5 glorious stars and a gushing review!
I’ve been reading outside of my usual horror/dark fiction genre for some of this month and have discovered some absolute gems. And this book is most definitely a shining star!
The story of an exiled prince, Patroclus, who becomes the lover and companion of the legendary Achilles, son of Peleus and the …
I’ll admit that I didn’t know much about the story of Achilles (other than his heel, of course). And I knew absolutely nothing of Patroclus. This story was beautifully written. I really felt for both of the main characters and I found this interpretation of their relationship absolutely stunning.
It was a wonderful view point of the story of Achilles.
What an utterly tragic, original take on the Trojan War. I read this a few years ago and still think about it. Clearly that means I need to reread it!
Very well written.
This is an excellent original story to stand along side of Homer’s and many others. It is full of the action of the Trojan War and its well-known warriors, but it is also an emotional look at the household names of Achilles and Patroklos. Moved to tears at the end.
After enjoying the author’s novel Circe, I sought out other books she had written. Song of Achilles is not as richly layered or as feminist as Circe. But it is almost as satisfying. I would not have expected the retelling of this Greek myth to be so compelling. The author is just a master harpist, I guess, knowing what strings of the heart and …
I absolutely adored this book. Such a sweepingly beautiful, yet heartbreaking story of love told through the eyes of Patroclus. The love between Achilles and Patroclus was one for the ages.
If you’re not super into mythology but still enjoy it, this book is really good. I didn’t expect to be this hooked! Defiantly will reread!