The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller, ISBN: 9781408817025
IF you speak to someone of Achilles, the chances are the first thing they will link his name to is the wooden horse of Troy. Possibly the movie starring Brad Pitt.
This novel, written by Madeline Miller, took 10 years in the making and follows the Greek hero from his time as a boy until his untimely end, through the eyes of his friend, companion and lover, Patroclus.
Their story is one of chance and is unbelievably beautiful. Patroclus is an exiled prince, stripped of his father’s name and title. As a young boy, he is sent to live in Phthia, where he meets the god-born Achilles and the duo form a strong bond of unbreakable friendship.
As the years go by, this blossoms into something more and Achilles’ mother, a sea goddess, is not pleased. She attempts to break them apart but in so doing only cements their bond.
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War bells toll and Achilles is called to aid in the return of the kidnapped Helen. Even though he is untrained in the art of war, Patroclus doesn’t hesitate to ensure he is at Achilles’ side.
It is beautifully crafted, and almost poetic in its telling. To say this book will leave you emotionally spent is right on the mark.
This book may not be new (the author just launched her second book, Circe), but it’s the fact that is is so undeniably unputdownable and is also on sale at Bargain Books for less than R100 (tissues not included) that it deserves to be shared.
Forget Helen and the face that launched a thousand ships. The story of these two warriors and lovers is an epic that deserves to be told time and time again. The Song of Achilles will have you fall in love with falling in love.
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