The Song of Achilles

by Madeline Miller

RATING: 4/5 STARS

This was a slow novel, but I really love how this novel progressed, although it was very slow. Most stories about the Trojan War, mainly focus on the perspective of Achilles. This novel follows Patroclus and his romance with Achilles.

  The narration really gives off Greek. Even the dialogue, it has that precise and straight forward quality that Greek has. I also appreciated the details that were included that most retellings tend to keep out (such as Achilles’s son). It was romantic in that classical way, not overly word and there weren’t those grand gestures… It really touched my heart. It gave an alternate view to a beloved story. I also appreciated the different types of love that were also presented in the story. For instance, the love between Patroclus and Briseis. While she had romantic feelings for him, Patroclus still loved her although it was not in the same way he adored Achilles. There were moments he pictured even a future with her, marriage and a child. Madeline Miller is a beautiful writer and she took a very familiar story (at least to me) and was able to give it new depth and dimension.

​  If you are a fan of Greek mythology, I do recommend this read. If you haven’t been able to read the classics, it is a somewhat lighter narration. If you would like to further your knowledge and read Homer’s The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson.

Review was originally written and posted 7/7/2022