Book details
The Song of Achilles
by Madeline Miller
2011 · A&C Black
About the book
In this reimagining of the Trojan War, the awkward prince Patroclus is exiled to the court of King Peleus, where he forms an unlikely friendship with the golden demi-god Achilles. As the two boys grow into manhood, their companionship transitions into a romantic bond, tested by the rigid expectations of Greek heroism and the looming prophecy of a bloody conflict in Troy. When Helen of Sparta is kidnapped, Achilles joins the Hellenic leaders to seek glory on the battlefield, forcing Patroclus to navigate a world of violent gods, prideful kings, and the inevitability of fate.
Readers of classical mythology and historical romance turn to this perspective to ground epic legends in human emotion. The narrative focuses on the internal lives of soldiers rather than just their tactical maneuvers. A reader finishes the story with a specific understanding of how Greek views on honor and immortality clashed with personal loyalty. It provides a detailed look at the domestic side of the Iliad, showing the vulnerability behind the bronze armor and the high cost of a legacy defined by war.
Details
- Published
- 2011
- Publisher
- A&C Black
- ISBN
- 9781408826133
- Language
- EN