![]() ![]() The gods are real and active characters, seen by others and interacted with not infrequently. Miller incorporates the mythology of the Greek gods and their histories into the story. ![]() He is an ordinary young boy thrown into extraordinary circumstances, awed by the character and mythology of Achilles while also in love with the real life person in front of him. Patroclus as narrator and especially as an awkward teenager felt entirely believable to me. His accidental murder of another boy leads to his banishment and his ultimate meeting and friendship with Achilles. We meet Patroclus as a young boy, a prince but ignored and not honoured in his own household. ![]() One of the questions that kept me reading was, of course, how can Patroclus tell this story when his own death is one of the great impetuses of the Trojan War? Patroclus is the narrator, not quite the hero but the focus of the story is tight on him and particularly his relationship with and view of Achilles. (Warning: This review is going to assume that you have some knowledge of the story of the Trojan War and as such may contain spoilers.) This re-telling of the story of Achilles is told from the point of view of Patroclus. It’s amazing that a tale so old and so familiar can still be compelling and yet Madeline Miller had me rushing through this novel to find out what happens. The story of the Trojan War has been told countless times and in countless ways. The Song of Achilles – Madeline Miller (Ecco, 2012) ![]()
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