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Cover of The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

  • 386 pages · about 6 hours
  • First published 2011
  • 43 editions
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1 About this book

This is the story of the seige of Troy from the perspective of Achilles best-friend Patroclus. Although Patroclus is outcast from his home for disappointing his father he manages to be the only mortal who can keep up with the half-God Archilles. Even though many will know the facts behind the story the telling is fresh and engaging.

  • Achilles (Greek mythology)
  • Trojan War
  • Male friendship
  • Friendship
  • War & military

2 What to expect

The story of the Iliad told by Patroclus, from his boyhood friendship with Achilles to their love and the war at Troy. Lyrical, romantic and tragic, with the violence of war.

Good for readers who want: Greek mythology, a love story, and a retelling.

3 About Madeline Miller

Born 1978

Madeline Miller (born July 24, 1978) is an American novelist, author of The Song of Achilles (2011) and Circe (2018). Miller spent ten years writing The Song of Achilles while she worked as a teacher of Latin and Greek. The novel tells the story of the love between the mythological figures Achilles and Patroclus; it won the Orange Prize for Fiction, making Miller the fourth debut novelist to win the prize.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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