The Song of Achilles
By Madeline Miller
Genre: LGBT, Historical Fiction, Mythology
Publication: Ecco (2012)
ISBN: 9780062060617
378 Pages
Summary:
This is the story of the Iliad--the rage and anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, who killed many in pursuit of eternal glory. This is the story of Patroclus, his infancy, his childhood, and his imm0rtalized connection to Achilles.
“He is half of my soul, as the poets say.”
After killing a boy, Patroclus is sent to live in the house of Peleus as a companion to Achilles. Together they are educated by Chiron on Pelion, ensnared by Odysseus on Skyros, and fight to their deaths in the famous war at Troy. This is the story of their undying love.
Personal Comments:
I'm somewhat familiar with LGBT+ fiction, but mostly for YA. GBLTQ for adults that isn't by our patron saint Jeanette Winterson is unknown to me. Winterson's own LGBT books always came off as self-exploration and actualization to me; YA LGBT+ is usually about growth and acceptance. The Song of Achilles was neither.
This is a story we all know (or have some vague idea of it anyway), but Miller has retold it through Patroclus's perspective, through the lens of the awkward, exiled prince whose famous death forces Achilles to return to battle. Many historians question whether Achilles and Patroclus were romantically involved (my own undergrad classics professor adamantly denied it), but Miller has taken this thought and run with it. It is one of the most lyrically beautiful books I have ever read and it left me emotional throughout. The ending nearly crushed me.
In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.
There are two major "events" taking place: the Iliad and the passionate romance between Achilles and Patroclus. There are only a few moments where their relationship is questioned in a negative way, but it is not placed as being unnatural. Patroclus and Achilles are in love, to the point of referring to one as a wife, and that is that. It is so natural.
Had she really thought I would not know him? I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell, I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.
Their struggle are not any opposing forces to their relationship; their struggles are fate, humanity, and glory (and Achilles's awful son).
Read Alikes:
Circe by Madeline Miller
Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
I'm soo happy someone did this book!! I LOVED this book! The Silence of the Girls was an EXCELLENT companion to it and I loved Circe soo much as well. In my mind I had this as literary, knowing full well, that there is a major LGBT theme in it and I'm soo happy that you chose this. Great annotation and great book. Full points!
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