The Song of Achilles: The 10th Anniversary edition of the Women's Prize-winning bestseller

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Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. The Song of Achilles" is the kind of book that you start reading, and the next thing you know, it's 3 a.m., and you can't put it down. Madeline Miller has a unique talent for bringing ancient myths to life with a modern twist, and she does it beautifully in this novel.

But what truly sets this book apart is the portrayal of love – a love that transcends time and societal norms. The relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is portrayed with such sensitivity and authenticity that it's impossible not to be moved by it. Their bond is the heart of the story, and it's a testament to the power of love in all its forms.

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While you may think that Achilles is the hero or what the story is about, it is really about Patroclus, who loved him unconditionally regardless of his flaws. Yes, Achilles was beautiful, musically talented (lyre) and a skilled warrior, but he was also aloof and at times difficult. And while Patroclus saw his shortcomings, he loved him in spite of them. Eventually even giving his life to make sure that Achilles remained whole.

My other favorite character is Briseis, who we later meet during the Trojan War when King Agamemnon holds her captive. The Iliad starts off with Achilles fighting with Agamemnon over Briseis. It plays out almost the same but a bit different in this book. Regardless of the representation, we still get the same gist that the trio spent years living together, which is another part of The Iliad and this book I really liked.

The one thing I really liked about The Iliad is that we saw a great deal of Hector. We saw very little of Hector in The Song of Achilles, and I suppose that’s because of the first person narration by Patroclus. There’s so many wonderful quotes I would’ve loved to have read from The Iliad that perfectly capture the words spoken between Hector and Achilles. Hector and Achilles are such a great match for each other because they both want the fame and glory that comes with death, and I really liked Hector in The Iliad. I only wish I would’ve seen more of him in this story. Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfill his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear. Greece in the age of Heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia. Here he is nobody, just another unwanted boy living in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. Ahhhh! I LOVE this book! I cannot believe it took me this long to start it. It’s been sitting on my kindle shelf for ages just staring at me accusingly. I am so so so glad I finally worked up the nerve to read it because it is AMAZING!!! She is in Agamemnon’s custody, but she is Achilles’ prize still. To violate her is a violation of Achilles himself, the gravest insult to his honor. Achilles could kill him for it, and even Menelaus would call it fair.”

I often switch up my review style, and I’ve decided to break the novel into 5 categories: Writing, Characters, Plot, Historical Accuracy, and Themes. A 10th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION, FEATURING A NEW FOREWORD BY THE AUTHOR WINNER OF THE ORANGE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION Inizio con il dire che è uno dei romanzi più belli che abbia letto, una storia che non mi dimenticherò facilmente. Apprezzatissimo anche da autori del calibro di J. K. Rowling e Donna Tartt, questo libro si è rivelato una piccola gemma, e non solo per la bellissima storia d'amore e d'amicizia che racconta. Questo romanzo è una perla sia dal punto di vista stilistico che per quanto riguarda l'accuratezza di ciò che viene raccontato. Avrei tanto voluto che fosse esistito quando ero al secondo liceo e stavo studiando i testi di Omero. Ai tempi studiavo l'Iliade e poi dimenticavo tutto, ricordando grosso modo solo i fatti più importanti e i personaggi maggiori. "La canzone di Achille" è una fantastica rivisitazione dell'Iliade: i personaggi, gli eventi narrati, la cronologia, ogni cosa è impeccabile e spiegata alla perfezione. Si vede che dietro quest'opera c'è un grandissimo lavoro di studio e di approfondimento dei testi classici. Briseis’ story. Her words of love to Patroclus and her willingness to stay with him forever, even if that meant sharing him with Achilles was simply beautiful. Not to mention, in the end she died on her own terms, refusing to be claimed (by Agamemnon) or enslaved again.

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Odysseus inclines his head. “True. But fame is a strange thing. Some men gain glory after they die, while others fade. What is admired in one generation is abhorred in another.” He spread his broad hands. “We cannot say who will survive the holocaust of memory. Who knows?” He smiles. “Perhaps one day even I will be famous. Perhaps more famous than you.” Despite everything I claimed about war, this story made me question its futility. I remember feeling the same when I was reading Bernard Cornwell's Arthurian saga. War seeks to establish the superiority of one man over another but Chiron was right when he said that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions; no man is worth more than another, wherever he is from. And this line rang true as I neared the end of this story of brave men fighting and killing and slaughtering. True that Helen eloped and true that Menelaus felt affronted. But they were not the only ones fighting this battle. A lot many did and a lot many died. I like that Miller starts off with Patroclus at age five, drawing you into the world of Achilles, the handsome demi-god with skills that would’ve made every Greek jealous except Patroclus. He admired Achilles, loved him from a distance for years until one day they kissed and the rest is history. Achilles, “best of all the Greeks,” is everything Patroclus is not—strong, beautiful, the child of a goddess—and by all rights their paths should never cross. Yet one day, Achilles takes the shamed prince under his wing and soon their tentative connection gives way to a steadfast friendship. As they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something far deeper—despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.