Madeline Miller takes the tales of Homer, Iliad and Odyssey, to create the novels The Song of Achilles and Circe, respectively. She does a great job of bringing these stories to a modern audience, creating real characters, with their passions and flaws, building the tension to be released in the chaos and consequences of war. Achilles, son of King Peleus and the goddess Thetis, is destined to be the greatest warrior of his generation. When Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta, is kidnapped by Prince Paris and brought to Troy, all the kingdoms of Greece are gathered under the leadership of King Agamemnon, brother of Menelaus, to embark on the Trojan War, to bring Helen back to Sparta. Achilles is expected to swear allegiance to Agamemnon, yet his pride does not permit him to kneel to him. This creates the foundation for animosity between the hero and the mortal.

While greatness is expected of Achilles due to his demigod qualities, his humanity is an essential part of his nature. This is expressed by his deep love for Patroclus, an exiled prince sent to the kingdom of Phthia, Achilles’ home, as a foster child. Achilles sees something special in Patroclus, and their loyal relationship grows. Miller chooses to depict their relationship as a great love affair. Homer did not depict it as such, although scholars are closely divided in their interpretation— half feel it was brotherly love, and half felt it included a physical relationship. Miller felt that the depth of Achilles’ grief at Patroclus’ death, and its expression could only be explained by an erotic bond— she had support from Plato in that regard! I feel it is unfortunate that scholars could believe that deep grief could only be due to a physical bond, not a deeper brotherly friendship.

The Song of Achilles brings the themes of Iliad to a modern audience— the heroism and horrors of war, the price of excessive pride, the empathy, tenderness, and personal sacrifice that are the best of humanity. The interplay of the gods in human activity, the role prophecy and fate plays in the affairs of men, are an interesting element in the story. What we choose, and how we cannot possibly see the ripple effects of our choices, are demonstrated with tragic effect. I recommend this retelling of Homer’s epic, in spite of my disagreement with Miller.