“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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Based on the “Iliad” this book is a fantastic read and if you’ve never read any mythology before, don’t worry, one can still read this and not be at a disadvantage. Loved it!
Well researched and beautifully written. Unfortunately the author sublimates the greater story by focusing on the romantic aspect of the relationship between the two leading males. Did she(author) have to constantly describe that intimacy as homosexual love rather then love between brothers? Reduced it to a dime-like romance novel. That constant …
The story of Achilles and Patroclus, beautifully told, and an alternative view of the Trojan War (actually Homer’s view, which did not include the wooden horse as in post-Homeric versions). This book was mesmerizing and kept my attention to the very end. I was sorry to see that I had truly (and quickly) finished reading the entire book. I can’t …
Was informative in that I have never really been into mythology. Learned a little about that era.
This novel fits nicely with Netflix’s Troy series.
A wonderful, imaginative expansion of a slice of the Iliad.
In this stunning homage to Homer’s Iliad, the focus is not on the carnage of the 10 year war in Troy, although the intensity and brutality of the conflict are certainly made clear, but on the extraordinary relationship between Achilles and his “most beloved” companion Patroclus.
I could not put this book down and found myself reading late into the …
I loved everything about this book. Characters , story, and the human side of Achilles and his dearest friend. He wasn’t just the greatest Greek warrior. He was a caring, loving, intelligent child and adult. I will read this book again and again, knowing that every time I’ll cry happy tears at the end.
Miller’s writing is beautiful, and that in itself is worth the read. The moving, romantic nature of the narrative is nicely balanced with tales of heroism. The authors knowledge for the subject is exhibited expertly throughout the story. From rich descriptions of ancient Greek culture, the food and customs.
So if you like heroic stories with gods …
Beautiful, incredible writing and story telling
I read the Greek mythologies in high school. I had a different memory of Achilles. This book challenged my memory and raised questions. I did some research after finishing the read. Sure nuff, everything the author presents is credible.
I enjoyed the story and initially wondered if a book written about mythical characters fit into the historical …
A beautiful love story, just amazing. The author’s writing style is beyond compare. I still don’t understand how she took a character that was really quite loathsome and with literally a few sentences at the very end of the book made me feel an almost physical pain for the character. Remarkable, lovely and emotional.
I will never be the same after reading this. I only wish it had never ended. I don’t think I’ll ever find another book as wonderful as this.
Read sample, too elementary and unimaginable, and highly predicable about the outcome. Did not order full book.
Love, love, love this book! The characters are fantastic and Miller does a wonderful job bringing Achilles to life. I can’t wait to read the rest of her books.
A heart breaking, personal retelling of the sack of Troy from the perspective of Patroclus, Achilles’ lover and companion.
GOOD
After hearing so many glowing reviews of this book, I was disappointed that it just didn’t work for me. I didn’t finish it, but maybe someday I’ll try it again if I’m in the mood for a retelling of Greek mythology.
This is the best book I’ve read since I read Edith Hamilton as a kid. Reintroduced me to the brilliance of Homer and all the related Greek myths: both their gods and mortals. I’ve read it twice, and I’m sure it will be read again and again over the years.
A modern take on the classic Iliad. A scholarly retelling of the events leading up to the Trojan War, not centering around Paris and Helen of Troy, but instead Achilles and his beloved, Patroclous. In the Iliad, Patroclus wears Achilles’ armor and is slain in battle and they are later buried together, but the Song of Achilles explores their deep …