The Song of Achilles

A beautifully presented edition of a truly memorable story. The 10th Anniversary cover is stunning, elegant, eye-catching, and definitely worthy of display on a bookshelf. It feels like a special collector’s copy rather than just another paperback. The story itself is engaging and emotional, offering an interesting retelling of Greek mythology through a deeply personal perspective. The writing is lyrical and immersive, making it easy to become invested in the characters and their journey. Even if you already know the myth, the emotional depth keeps you turning the pages. A lovely edition of a powerful and moving novel, perfect for readers who enjoy mythology, romance, and character-driven storytelling.

I could have picked any of a number of adjectives to describe this book: masterful, poignant, lyrical and so many more “clever” ones to choose from. But simply beautiful sums it best: this is a perfectly balanced tale of gods, heroes, and great deeds (as we all know it from Homer), but most importantly it is a story of men (and a very few women - as “befitting” of the period) with their strengths as well as foibles, with their dreams as well as fears, in all their “glorious” humanity. But most of all, this is a story about love and grief. And any reader accepting this book as a work of fiction will be touched by the depth of emotions, whether expressed or merely suggested.

I didn’t find this to be the sweeping love story many people describe. For me, its heart was something darker: a study of pride and ego, and how they ruin everything. The first half of the book was my favourite. I was completely transported to Phthia and then to Chiron’s cave — I could taste the figs, feel the Greek sun, the cool mountain water. It was tender, slow, and believable, a coming-of-age wrapped in myth. But when the war began, I felt myself pulling away. The story shifted into politics, waiting, and the tireless egos of men. Agamemnon was insufferable (as he’s meant to be), but what shocked me was how much I grew to resent Achilles. The boy who once felt golden and gentle became arrogant, bloodthirsty, and blinded by pride. He cast Briseis aside as a pawn in his feud with Agamemnon, and then allowed Patroclus to go into battle in his place — a decision that felt less like love and more like self preservation. By then, I found myself questioning why Patroclus had stayed, and I could not grieve for Achilles when he finally fell. The final chapters struck me not with sorrow, but with fury at the futility of it all. Pyrrhus’ cruelty, Briseis’s needless death — it made the whole tragedy feel pointlessly cruel. And maybe that’s the truest echo of Greek myth: glory costs lives, and pride leaves nothing but destruction. Achilles himself stated there were “no happy heroes” and he was correct. I still admired the book deeply. Madeline Miller’s prose is beautiful, and the way she reimagined Patroclus — softer, gentler, the true heart of the story — will stay with me. But my Song of Achilles was not about love conquering death. It was about how men’s egos consume everything, even the people they claim to love

Forget everything you thought you knew about the myth of Achilles (especially the Holywood Brad Pitt version), and indulge in this magnificent tale. It's so exquisitely told, an epic love story, a wondrous saga. Madeleine Miller is a rare writer; one who holds your focus for page after page. The book is unputdownable, and I found myself reading late into the night, long after everyone else had gone to bed. It is a book that stays in the imagination for ever; and I long to reside in her world of myth, magic, awe and wonder. What a treat.

UPDATED: SEE BELOW When I heard that "Song of Achilles" had won the 2012 Orange Prize, I bought it to understand why an outsider had won. As reviewers have noted elsewhere the first few chapters drag and left me wondering whether the judges had made a mistake. But then the book reels you in with its tale of a complete love and passion, leaving you emotionally drained and weeping at the tragic and heartrending fate of Achilles and Patroclus. The book's power must have overwhelmed the judges. It's hard to put down or leave, and the characters linger driving you back to sources to devour more of this doomladen tale. Afterwards, you think what a cruel device those first few chapters are. I had forgotten just how much the fates of Achilles, Patroclus and Hector were intertwined or that Achilles himself may have manipulated the course of the war to defer his own fate. In a central scene in the book, Odysseus spins a nightmare that Achilles will suffer the loss of his brilliance and withering of his grace if he does not come to Troy but then we learns from Thetis that he will never return from Troy and will die a young man there. Later we are told that this won't happen till Hector dies and Achilles is probably the only person capable of despatching him. Achilles weaves for himself a dream that if he doesn't kill Hector - and sees no reason to do so at that stage - his death can be deferred and time stolen from the Fates. While the gods are shown as manipulating the course of events, the course of the tragedy hangs on the very human decision Achilles alone has to make. Fame and early death at Troy or lose his reputation but live a long life. Miller invokes powerfully the full horror of the situation. Their fate is sealed as Achilles sails to Troy with Patroclus. The strength of the book lies in the telling of the love story which is handled with great sensitivity and the characterisation of Achilles and Patroclus rather than in any recounting of the Trojan war (which is faithful to Homer's account in the Iliad and the Odyssey). The pair grow into manhood as the war develops, and while their love and mutual affection remain steadfast, their relationship is placed under enormous strain by Achilles' reaction to the course of events and his overweening pride. The writing becomes more powerful as events reach a crescendo - the battle scenes played out in all their horror and goreiness. I liked the way the female characters such as Briseis and Thetis are fleshed out and given more substantial roles than found in Homer. The ending is epic and you are left with a terrible sense of loss, and a question over the value of a human life. Just as Patroclus weeps earlier in the book when they have to make the fateful decision to go to Troy, when Achilles dies "all things swift and beautiful and bright would be buried with him". In the end, no amount of renown is worth the life paid for it as Achilles later tells Odysseus during his visit to the Underworld. If there are any niggles it is about the use of Patroclus as the narrator - at times you would like to get inside Achilles' head and escape Patroclus' insecurities. Achilles is frequently taken off by his mother and we hear very little about these visits and about what he thinks about them except where germane to the story. Miller also uses a few modern swear words which she drops into the text from nowhere. I would love to see this book filmed but using unknown actors rather than Hollywood stars. Let's hope Miller chooses another engrossing story for her second book. UPDATED REVIEW - 16 AUGUST 2012 I have now read "Song of Achilles" about 6 times, some of it more than 6 times, so I know the text pretty well. I have just read the first book of Mary Renault's Alexander Trilogy "Fire from Heaven" about the first 20 years of Alexander The Great's life and his relationships particularly with his parents, and his companion and lover Hephaistion. I love Mary Renault's writing and really enjoyed this book, but still like "Song of Achilles" just as much. However I was struck by the similarities between the two books - in terms of incident, characters, narrative - was this just a coincidence as there are similarities between the Achilles/Patroclus and Alexander/Hephaistion stories? Clearly Renault's book has greatly influenced Miller and I am surprised Miller did not acknowledge this at the end of her book. Does anyone else agree?

A fate prophesised by the gods, but a song that still needed to be sung, and music that future generations would continue to play !!! The ‘Song of Achilles’ is a beautifully orchestrated retelling of one of Greek Mythology’s best known and best loved stories of the Siege at Troy and life of the legendary demi-god Achilles. A lyrical masterpiece that portrays the human side of the man, the lover, and the warrior who is destined to fulfil a prophecy that sees him fall after the death of Hector, sustaining the iconic Achilles heel injury. A story that is epic, timeless, and sad but told with great sentiment, heart, and soul. A book that does not try to recount the historical events of the past and the myths but rather embellishes them to play the song of Achilles. The Plot Achilles meets Patroclus at school at the age of twelve, and soon the unlikely pairing of these two boys becomes a deep friendship. Wanting to separate the two boys and to begin Achilles life’s teachings, Achilles’ mother Thetis, sends him off to the centaur Chiron for three years to learn literature, nature, sacrifice, and the art of battle. However, not to be torn away from his friend, Patroclus follows Achilles into the caves and remains with him for three years as the love between the two blossoms. Following the legendary story of Helen of Troy, Achilles is asked to join Agamemnon’s forces to defend his brothers honour after Paris steels the beautiful Helen from her home. And now Achilles must fight for the honour of the most beautiful woman in the world, against the mightiest city of the east. A journey to Aulis and then Troy that will seal the fate of these two men. Review and Comments The Song of Achilles is first a love story and a tragedy but then the best love stories make the best tragedies and ‘The Song of Achilles’ meets all those expectations. Whilst there is no shortage of books that take their inspiration from centuries old stories of Greek Mythology, few will be ambitious enough to venture on a retelling of one of Greek Mythology’s best loved stories and Achilles life story from boyhood, and the boy who became a man and an infamous warrior. In doing so Miller tells of a love story that is sentimental but not overflowing in its protestations of love, a relationship that is touching but not overly emotional and a tale of two men human, flawed, imperfect but who each bring depth of character in their roles and strong in their principles but protective of each other. Truly stunning in its story telling, a brilliant work of fiction interwoven with the myths, legends and the greatest stories told in Greek mythology. A human portrayal of a demi-god who loves, fights, and dominates, yet it is his stubbornness and unyielding pride that is ultimately his downfall, but then again it was always written in the song!!!

Chosen as our Book Club choice this month, ‘The Song of Achilles’ took me back to my school days, studying Greek Lit in Translation, in 1966. I have never forgotten the lasting interest that course provided, learning about the gods, their influence on ancient Greeks, Odysseus and his journeys. This book is an easy read once you have mastered the cast list, its primarily a romance, with a tragedy of heroic proportions to close. All history lessons should be as enjoyable as this. Achilles, half god, son of the terrifying sea goddess Thetis, is the flame haired shining star here, of course, with his close friend and supporter Patroclus. Thetis demands Achilles company in the underworld, he spends much time with her, in and beneath the sea, being trained, cajoled and warned. Prophesies cannot be sidestepped by mortals – or can they? Patroclus tries his best to avert the edict. His bravery in the end is astounding and effective. Madeline Miller is a kind of Hilary Mantel ‘lite’. Another Mary Renault. She puts the reader right there, in the palace, in the crystal cave with Chiron, dancing in the court of Skyros, camping outside the walls of Troy. In fact this book could be young adult so coy are the sweet descriptions of the growing, unshakeable love between two boys. How young they were. The relationship between Achilles and Patroclus was heart warming, if over emphasised, beginning with the Greek ‘boarding school for warriors’ at Achilles’ father’s place. The accident which sent Patroclus there was so easy to imagine, and so terrible in consequence for his family life. The sweet feelings he later discovered towards Briseis, the instinct that sought her survival, the healing work done by her with Patroclus in the medical tent, using the knowledge that Chiron gave him in the mountains, are all beautiful stories. Altogether it was a pleasure to be reminded of the old myths, an exciting read in places and rewarding in others. I especially loved Chiron. What a marvellous tale this is, despite the writer ignoring popular belief in the most famous Trojan and Achilles legend - I was waiting for the Trojan horse, which never arrived, although was foretold, and I was disappointed that Achilles was shot by a spear between his shoulder blades, not through his only weak point, his heel. Shame!

I’m going to assume that you’re familiar with the Iliad because it’s been out a while, so, Spoilers, I guess? The Song of Achilles is a retelling, one which takes the myth and runs with it. Here Achilles really is the son of a sea nymph, he is trained by a centaur, and gods play their part in the lives of man. I used to know my Classics a lot better that I do now - Roger Lancelyn Green’s books were a staple of my childhood library - so this was a book which unfolded for me. I remembered each plot point as we hit it, so I’m entirely the wrong person to ask if it makes any logical sense. It probably doesn’t. It certainly could have done a better job of selling ancient motivations to a modern audience. The story is told by Patroclus, a prince and, when he begins this story, unlikely candidate for Helen’s hand in marriage. I am super here for a room full of men deciding what will happen to a teenage girl, as you can imagine. This is a male story, though, and Miller doesn’t attempt to change that. However, when Patroclus inadvertently kills another boy, he is exiled to the court of Peleus where he falls swooningly in love with Mary Sue Achilles, who’s super perfect at everything (as one expects from a demi-god). Thetis, Achilles’ mother, really hates Patroclus. The boys go off to learn things on a mountain. They are swoonily swoony. They come back. Thetis hates Patroclus. Then she hides Achilles because she doesn’t want him to go to Troy as he will be killed. Once the war actually begins, a good half way through the book, things improve, in part because there’s actually things happening. There is air of inexorability to the whole thing which really gets into its stride in the last third as we make the drive towards what is fated to happen (and we’re no longer reading rambling scenes about how swoony teenage Achilles is). When Miller hits the predetermined narrative events, she’s good. When she’s making her own way between, she’s… less good. For a book which treats the gods as real, there’s an awful lot of “something’s happening because the gods are displeased” conversations, followed by “here’s the solution to that” conversations. Obviously there’s no one correct version of many of the myths, but sometimes Miller takes the path of most boredom, such as the demand for the sacrifice of Iphigenia. Apollo’s appearance on the walls of Troy especially charmed me, so the omission of the gods involvement in other ways, even as a background, felt disappointing. I am also critical of the characterisation. Odysseus is great, true, but everybody else? Eh. Achilles lives his whole life chained to the prophecies made about him, but whatever this does to him remains unexplored. He’s just some guy. Admittedly one who is super good at everything and jolly good looking. And when we’re reading the narrative of a boy, then man, who is in love with him, I’d really have preferred to grasp the appeal. Thetis is especially poorly done. Like her son she is chained to the pronouncements of the Fates, but here she is a pure JustNoMil. She’s such a central figure in the original myth - the Trojan war begins because of a prophecy made about her: the son of Thetis will be greater than his father, hence “marriage” to Peleus, hence somebody not doing the invitations right, hence golden apple etc etc etc I was also unreasonably annoyed that Miller chooses to not use the one thing everybody knows about our demi-god: that he really should have invested in some foot armour. Google assures me Homer doesn’t include the story of Thetis’s attempt to make her son invulnerable and immortal, but Homer doesn’t include Achilles’ death, either. Or the romantic relationship between him and Patroclus. It felt like a massive oversight rather than a deliberate decision. The beginning was interesting if not grippy. Then it got a bit dull. Then a bit duller. Then, by the end, it was very good indeed. I don’t rule out reading Circe, Miller’s second full length novel, but I could just as easily not. Overall? 3 stars

Jedna z moich ulubionych książek wszechczasów.

The book is in perfect condition, I am very happy

The beginning is good but towards the middle it’s pretty slow and you might wonder if it’ll live up to the hype but once you enter the ending it’s just so intense and emotional and it’s an experience! I loved it!

Originally posted on my blog at https://rantandraveaboutbooks.com/2016/07/29/the-song-of-achilles-fate-fury-and-friendship-make-for-a-rave-review/ First, I think it’s important to mention that The Iliad is my favorite book, so my connection to the characters and this story is much deeper than most. I read The Iliad in 2001 and have since been obsessed with all things Greek mythology as well as anything related to the Trojan War. I’ve read The Iliad a total of six times in its entirety, so when I read The Song of Achilles, a work of historical fiction based on the book, I was completely blow away. I can’t remember the last time I stared at the last page of a novel and felt that satisfied. I recently wrote a post about The Iliad if you want to learn more about the original and the modern-day spin I added to it. We read The Song of Achilles as our Book of the Month for Hype or Like Friday, a Goodreads group I co-created with Britt and Larkin, and I’m looking forward to reading the reviews. If you’re a member of the group or have reviewed this book in the past, feel free to share the link to your review in the comments. I often switch up my review style, and I’ve decided to break the novel into 5 categories: Writing, Characters, Plot, Historical Accuracy, and Themes. Note: If you haven’t read The Iliad or are unaware of the history/mythology surrounding the Trojan War, then consider this your warning that there are major spoilers below that explain both The Iliad and The Song of Achilles in great detail. The Writing… Madeline Miller’s prose is so beautiful I was instantly drawn into this novel from the first page. It’s really brilliant, and that’s a word I’ve only used to describe Stephen King’s prose, so that actually means something to me in terms of quality. I’m impressed with very few authors’ writing style, which made this book unputdownable for me. I didn’t realize until after I read the novel that Miller studied and teaches classic literature, and it really shines through. The Song of Achilles is so well written I couldn’t believe this was her first novel. I avoided this one for a while because I was afraid it couldn’t live up to my favorite book. I never thought a re-telling could do Homer justice, but this book knocked it out of the park. The Characters… Choosing Patroclus as the narrator of this story was a BRILLIANT idea! My first thought was how can Patroclus narrate from first person POV when his death is what drives Achilles to kill Hector in a fit of rage, knowing it will lead to his own death? I don’t think this counts as a spoiler considering The Iliad is over three thousand years old and most people know the story of Achilles by now. And that’s not even the most important aspect of this book. I’ve always loved Patroclus and Achilles together. They are The Iliad, at least they are for me. Homer never mentions they’re lovers in his work, but some historians believe the reason Achilles was so distraught over Patroclus’ death was because they were in a relationship. His pain would’ve been real whether they were friends or lovers. Who wouldn’t mourn the loss of their best friend, someone they grew up with? But that’s the spin Miller takes on my favorite classic that really intrigued me. My other favorite character is Briseis, who we later meet during the Trojan War when King Agamemnon holds her captive. The Iliad starts off with Achilles fighting with Agamemnon over Briseis. It plays out almost the same but a bit different in this book. Regardless of the representation, we still get the same gist that the trio spent years living together, which is another part of The Iliad and this book I really liked. “She is in Agamemnon’s custody, but she is Achilles’ prize still. To violate her is a violation of Achilles himself, the gravest insult to his honor. Achilles could kill him for it, and even Menelaus would call it fair.” Achilles is such a tough, strong-willed character that overpowers Patroclus’ more sensitive side, but the two of them work so well together. When Achilles is about to go off the rails, it’s always Patroclus that can rein him in. The Plot… Patroclus was a prince, exiled and sent to live at King Peleus’ court. Achilles’ father wasn’t keen on Patroclus and Achilles’ friendship because he was no longer a prince, but Achilles chose him and that was all that mattered. Everyone listened to what the prince said, and when Achilles speaks in the book, I really felt the power behind his words. His arrogance and air of entitlement can be an issue with some readers, but I see his character from a completely different perspective than most. I like that Miller starts off with Patroclus at age five, drawing you into the world of Achilles, the handsome demi-god with skills that would’ve made every Greek jealous except Patroclus. He admired Achilles, loved him from a distance for years until one day they kissed and the rest is history. When Helen of Sparta, later known as Helen of Troy, is allegedly kidnapped and taken to Troy this prompts Achilles’ need to fight. In The Iliad, Aphrodite promises Paris, Prince of Troy, a beautiful woman, and Helen was considered one of the most beautiful women of that time. This is not shown in the novel, but I thought I’d mention it to give you some context. The entire war and story is set in motion by Helen and Paris’ relationship that angers her husband Menelaus, who convinces his brother King Agamemnon to go to war. “Yet this beautiful spear had been fashioned not in bitterness, but love. Its shape would fit no one’s hand but Achilles’, and its heft could suit no one’s strength but his. And though the point was keen and deadly, the wood itself slipped under our fingers like the slender oiled strut of a lyre.” Slight Confession: I shed a few tears at Patroclus’ death. I cry every time I read The Iliad because it’s so powerful and emotionally draining to read and feel Achilles’ pain over his friend, and in this story, his lover. I won’t spoil the ending for you, but I will say that I absolutely loved the conclusion to Patroclus and Achilles’ story. The Historical Accuracy… Everything from Odysseus’ search for Achilles in a foreign court to the divine intervention from the gods was completely accurate. We see Apollo help Paris shoot the arrow that leads to Achilles’ death. He tells him that Achilles might be part god but he’s also man and even gods can be killed. I was afraid this book would take liberties with history. I was thoroughly pleased that did not happen here. While some things were not exactly the same, it was spot on for the most part, which made me smile every time I read another part that lived up to what I’d hoped. I had so many expectations before I opened the book on my Kindle, and I’m thrilled that I can Rave over The Song of Achilles for all the right reasons. The Themes… There are five recurring themes in The Iliad that are also presented in this novel. Achilles knows his destiny is to be the best fighter to ever live, and when his mother Thetis, a sea goddess, tells him he will die if he goes to Troy, he chooses fame and glory over homecoming. He was raised with the assumption he would be the greatest warrior the Greeks had ever seen. While this is true, his pride is a problem that starts to wear on the Greek companies in Troy after Achilles is unable to come to a truce with Agamemnon. The last of her fire was gone; only marble remained. “It is true. But there is more, and worse that he has not said.” The words came tonelessly, as a statue would speak them. “If you go to Troy, you will never return. You will die a young man there.” Achilles’ face went pale. “It is certain?” This is what all mortals ask first, in disbelief, shock, fear. Is there no exception for me? “It is certain.” We see homecoming after the war in the Odyssey with Odysseus, but fate is determined by the Fates themselves, the spinners of life and death. Achilles’ mother pleads with the gods to save her son, but his fate was already set and unavoidable. Odysseus inclines his head. “True. But fame is a strange thing. Some men gain glory after they die, while others fade. What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” He spread his broad hands. “We cannot say who will survive the holocaust of memory. Who knows?” He smiles. “Perhaps one day even I will be famous. Perhaps more famous than you.” Another important theme is the concept of honor. Achilles goes to Troy because he knows it’s the honorable thing to do. He also fights with Agamemnon over Briseis because he believes that the king is a dishonorable man and by taking his war prize, who later becomes his friend, he’s showing Achilles a lack of respect and therefore has not earned his in return. The Wrath of Achilles is the most notable theme of The Iliad. His anger for Agamemnon is present from the beginning of the book until the bitter end, and his anger over Patroclus’ death only intensifies that fury that he’s waited to unleash. He tears through Trojans like they’re nothing, ripping apart their best fighters until he finally gets the chance to make Hector, Prince of Troy and best of the Trojans, suffer for what he did to his friend. Hector’s eyes are wide, but he will run no longer. He says, “Grant me this. Give my body to my family, when you have killed me.” Achilles makes a sound like choking. “There are no bargains between lions and men. I will kill you and eat you raw.” His spearpoint flies in a dark whirlwind, bright as the evening-star, to catch the hollow at Hector’s throat. The one thing I really liked about The Iliad is that we saw a great deal of Hector. We saw very little of Hector in The Song of Achilles, and I suppose that’s because of the first person narration by Patroclus. There’s so many wonderful quotes I would’ve loved to have read from The Iliad that perfectly capture the words spoken between Hector and Achilles. Hector and Achilles are such a great match for each other because they both want the fame and glory that comes with death, and I really liked Hector in The Iliad. I only wish I would’ve seen more of him in this story. This may either tie or beat Red Rising for the longest review I’ve ever written. I hope this all makes sense and doesn’t come off as a Greek lit fangirl ramble.

perfect