I first read Madeline Miller’s debut novel, The Song of Achilles, back in late 2019. I was immediately taken with it, but like most things I don’t usually revisit them so soon. A little while ago I found my gaze landing on my copy of the book more and more, but my trip to Greece last month finally convinced me I needed to read this epic romance again!
I think what really inspired me was seeing an island (that could be your for a modest 150 million) named after Patroclus! How freaking cool! I had just been telling my friend about this book earlier on the trip, but it was neat to hear little snippets of this tale, initially Homer’s Iliad, from our excursion guide. It got me excited to get home and read this book again. Similar to Miller, our guide also believed that Achilles and Patroclus were lovers. Of course, these stories are all mythologically based, but that doesn’t make them any less compelling.
In re-reading this book, I am sure I caught more details this time around. It was still good to learn about Patroclus’ background, as Achilles was more known of the pair. Patroclus at first wanted nothing to do with Achilles, but the latter’s good nature, honesty, and kindness is what initiated their friendship. Spending so much time together growing up and then up in the mountains learning all they’d need to know from Chiron, it makes sense that their bond only grew closer and more intimate. It’s also clear that neither of them really had any interest in women the way the other men and boys in their lives did.
It was also crazy to me how young they were when all of the novel’s most important events took place. They were expected to act as adults when they were just sixteen. Achilles was selected to lead an army to Troy at just seventeen! Sure, the main tragedy’s action didn’t take place until a full ten years later, but that’s still so young! It makes me wonder how anyone could think an eighteen year old would be ready for war. I’m in my 30s and that type of imagery sounds brutal. I am a Patroclus. While Achilles was gentle at his core, he was also a bit blinded by his pride, or hubris as they called it in the novel. That was truly his heel.
As I expected, reading this book again was a pure delight and I implore those who have not checked it out yet to do so. I know the dreaded TikTok helped it soar in popularity somewhat recently, but still. There are more of you out there I know it!