The Song of Achilles
by Madeline Miller
Achilles, “the best of all the Greeks,” son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods’ wrath.
They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.
The Song of Achilles has been an incredibly popular novel since its release in 2011, highly recommended by seemingly all who delve into its pages. For those of us who are drawn to Greek mythology, The Song of Achilles has been unavoidable, a pillar of the recent rise of Greek mythology retellings—and for good reason.
There’s no question as to the origin of such lofty praise. The Song of Achilles is a stunning novel. Though not unfamiliar with Miller’s writing, I was once again taken aback by just how immersive and beautiful her storytelling is, the incredible balance she strikes between portraying an ancient myth as what it is—vast, powerful, ancient—and presenting it as something fresh, intimate, and alive. Retellings of classic myths can take many shapes, but Miller doesn’t just find inspiration in the tales of Greek mythology, she truly retells them in a way that feels authentic and true to the essence of Greek mythology while making them completely accessible and entertaining to modern readers. The Song of Achilles is tale of old that feels rightfully otherworldly, but also grounded firmly in humanity and gripping emotion that holds readers captive.
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Miller’s writing itself is spectacular. There is something powerful about her writing, the very specific tone she strikes with each word on each page. It’s rich, powerful yet subtle. Her writing conjures two distinct, contrasting images to mind; first, walking through a room of dangling, faceted jewels, rich and inviting as if just waiting to be plucked—sumptuous and decadent. And second, walking through a vast, empty marble hall that is clean, crisp, precise and cutting in its beauty and exquisite in its luxury, but stark. It’s a simple sort of decadence, Miller’s writing. Rich in detail and stunning imagery, but with a delivery that cuts like a blade, sharp and to the point. Sweeping, but intimate.
The Song of Achilles follows our narrator, Patroclus, as his path interacts with that of Achilles, a boy born of a mortal man and a goddess, who was destined for greatness. From a young age, the boys’ lives are inseparable; to know Patroclus is to know Achilles. Miller’s storytelling skill is apparent in the way in which she tells a myth so full, dipping into moments of growing intimacy, moments that develop readers’ knowledge and understanding of Patroclus and Achilles before gently moving us along further down the timeline of their story. The Song of Achilles is the becoming of a legend—Achilles stepping into his fate and becoming a hero as Patroclus walks the path with him, as close as one can get but still removed. With my limited knowledge of Achilles’ myth coming into it, most of this novel came as a (often heart-wrenching) surprise. Weaving together the threads of Achilles’ and Patroclus’ lives with such depth and emotion, The Song of Achilles maintains the sense of enormity expected from Greek mythology, rife with drama and marked by the whims of gods, kings, and heroes clamoring for glory and legend. Readers are taken from quiet days of adolescence under the watch of Chiron, the centaur who instructed many Greek heroes, to Troy where we meet Agamemnon and Odysseus and other familiar figures in the wake of Helen’s kidnapping as Achilles does what he was always meant for. It was tragic and gripping and heart wrenching, but also supremely satisfying and beautiful as it builds towards a crescendo in battle and emotion. The Song of Achilles is a perfectly told tale.
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This novel seeps with emotion so beautifully crafted and expressed. Patroclus and Achilles were incredibly well written characters, so real and solid amidst the enormity of a backdrop of Greek mythology. Miller brought such nuance and depth to these characters; they were impossible to look away from. Their relationship is the very heart of this novel, breathing emotion and life into every page. It’s the focal point of the novel, what the story builds up to and then revolves around even as the scope of the novel shifts to bigger pieces of mythological tales. It grounds the story, keeping readers tethered to the truth of Patroclus and Achilles and who they really are. Even as Achilles’ pride becomes a weakness, their relationship and Patroclus’ knowledge and unshakeable faith in who Achilles is tethers readers to the heart of the novel. Achilles’ more negative traits are humanized, made understandable and relatable despite being born of the arrogance of gods and heroes. The romantic relationship was so beautifully written, one of my favorites I’ve ever read. It was tragic and stunning.
The Song of Achilles is sheer perfection. If you, like me, have waited this long to read this novel, wait no longer. It’s an incredibly well written, sweeping tale of mythology and love that will leave you feeling awed and devastated, but in a completely satisfying way. The Song of Achilles is a modern classic, a must read for all.
One of my fave books of all time!!
It’s stunning!! A new favorite for me.