The Song of Achilles was recommended to me by my friend Michele, and at first glance, I realized it wasn’t necessarily a book I’d pick up on my own. I’m not all that interested in Greek Mythology or Greek Gods, so it’s certainly something I would’ve passed on at the bookstore. But I trust Michele’s taste, so off I went with the story.
Y’all, it is fantastic.
My only working knowledge of Achilles is his general story about being held by his ankle into some river so that all of his body was made super-strong – minus that ankle – hence the idiom about something being “your Achilles’ heel” or weakness.
After finishing the novel, I did a deep dive into all the variations of his story because I didn’t realize there were different versions and interpretations. I certainly didn’t know anything about Patroclus or their relationship. Despite my ignorance going in, The Song of Achilles was one of the most beautiful novels I’ve ever read.
The story is told from the point of view of Patroclus, the steady companion to Achilles and former prince who was exiled by the king. Patroclus is sent away to grow up in the court of Peleus, Achilles’s father, and what begins as a friendship between the two young boys grows into so much more. The true nature of Achilles and Patroclus is anyone’s guess. Were they like brothers? Were they trusted companions? Were they romantically involved?
Madeline Miller opted for the romantic option in The Song of Achilles, so as Achilles goes off to fight in the Trojan War, with Patroclus at his side, what unfolds is a heart-wrenching but beautiful tragedy as the two men meet their fates. The story has all of its fantastical necessities required for a story about a demi-god hero, but it also has what’s required for an timeless love story.
The Song of Achilles was so much better than I expected it to be, which goes to show that you really can’t judge a story without reading it for yourself.