City News

 Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 

Author Madeline Miller’s debut novel The Song of Achilles is a retelling of The Iliad, in which the Greek hero Achilles’s adventures are chronicled during the Trojan War. The Song of Achilles, told from Patroclus’s point of view, details his life after he accidentally kills another boy while still a child himself, resulting in his exile to Phthia, under the care of King Peleus. Here, he meets Achilles, and the two begin to develop an incredibly strong bond in which they share adventures, tragedies, and every imaginable scenario in between: they train together, learn together, face conflicts together, and even begin to love each other. As they grow older, they grow closer, until one day, Patroclus is faced with a critical decision that tragically alters his—and Achilles’s—fates forever.

Miller’s book discusses topics of glory and the costs of earning it as well as pride and love. Both Patroclus and Achilles are constantly forced to make decisions resting on these themes, and such decisions often lead to pivotal moments in the plot that leave both the characters and readers questioning whether the right decision was made or not. The theme of glory is known as kleos in Greek, and it refers to glory won through battle. Achilles struggles greatly with the decision between pursuing kleos versus staying relatively unknown but safe with Patroclus, and this leads to many of the major conflicts in the novel.

Due to the story being told from a more minor character’s perspective, Miller is able to create a unique insight into such a famous and beloved tale. Her innovative ideas combined with an engaging writing style allow for an exemplary novel that expertly retells a classic story in a new and accurate way. Instead of merely exploring the plot of the original stories, Miller dives deeper into the characters’ personalities and motives, particularly those who aren’t as well-known as the main characters. As a result, the novel is more engrossing due to the ease with which readers become attached to the characters.

Patroclus, Achilles, and the other characters in The Song of Achilles are masterfully crafted by Miller to be characters that the reader sees themselves in. Although one typically thinks of Greek heroes as perfect and without error, Miller shows the many flaws that they have, making them seem more relatable and human to the audience. This character-driven novel follows Patroclus and Achilles from their childhood until adulthood, where the readers can see the progression and growth of each of them. 

Those who enjoy modern mythology retellings including Miller's other novel Circe or Jennifer Saint's Ariadne will find The Song of Achilles to be a similarly interesting read. Although about different mythological characters and their stories, these novels all offer a way for younger readers to get into mythology, as its traditional texts are often very intimidating for anyone who does not enjoy elaborate tales written in a more poetic style. The Song of Achilles distinguishes itself as a truly iconic novel that will be memorable in the years to come.

Check out Song of Achilles at the Newport Beach Public Library!