One sentence summary
The Song of Achilles novel tells the epic tale of love, war and fate between two friends from Greek mythology, Achilles and Patroclus.
Book genre
The Song of Achilles is a historical fiction novel in the fantasy genre.
Main topic of the book
The main topic of the book revolves around the characters of Achilles and Patroclus, their relationship of love, trust, and strength, and the story of their journey to become the most renowned heroes in Greek mythology.
Key ideas
- Love: The novel delves into the deep bond between Achilles and Patroclus, showing how their mutual love and trust helped them become legends of Greek mythology.
- War: The inevitability of war and its consequences upon individual lives is explored in detail, showing how heroic leaders act in times of great strife.
- Fate: We witness Achilles’s special connection with the gods, and his legendary journey to accept his fate and become a hero is portrayed with great empathy.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
- Part I: In the first part of the novel, we get to know Achilles from his childhood and follow him as his powers develop and his curious connection with the gods becomes clear.
- Part II: In the second part of the book, we follow Achilles and Patroclus to the war in Troy. We witness how their bond of love and trust helps them survive the harshness of war and achieve legendary status.
- Part III: In the last part of the book, we witness Achilles’s heroic feats on the battlefield and his eventual death. The novel concludes with a poignant set of reflections on the impact of fate, love and war.
Key takeaways
- The book is an exploration of the bond of love and trust between two friends and how their courage and skill helped to shape Greek mythology.
- We witness heroic deeds and heart-breaking losses in a story of warfare and its repercussions.
- The novel is an exploration of the timeless themes of love, war and fate, and shows us how fate is beyond our control even if heroic actions can help shape it.
Author’s background and qualifications
Madeline Miller is the author of the acclaimed novel The Song of Achilles. She has a degree in Latin and Ancient Greek from Brown University and has worked as an adjunct professor at Oberlin College. Miller is a two-time winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction for this book and her other novel Circe.
Target audience
The Song of Achilles is aimed at readers of historical fiction, fantasy, and those interested in Greek mythology.
Publisher and first publication date
The Song of Achilles was first published in 2012 by HarperCollins.