The Song Of Achilles

Author: Madeline Miller

Stock information

General Fields

  • : $22.99 AUD
  • : 9781408891384
  • : Bloomsbury
  • : Bloomsbury Pb
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  • : 0.357884
  • : November 2017
  • : 198mm X 129mm
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  • : 22.99
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  • :
  • : books

Special Fields

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  • :
  • : Madeline Miller
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  • : Paperback
  • :
  • :
  • : English
  • : 813.6
  • : very good
  • :
  • : 368
  • : FA
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Barcode 9781408891384
9781408891384

Local Description

November 2017

Description

Greece in the age of Heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia. Here he is nobody, just another unwanted boy living in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. Achilles, “best of all the Greeks,” is everything Patroclus is not -- strong, beautiful, the child of a goddess -- and by all rights their paths should never cross. Yet one day, Achilles takes the shamed prince under his wing and soon their tentative connection gives way to a steadfast friendship. As they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something far deeper -- despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals. Fate is never far from the heels of Achilles. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows Achilles into war, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they have learned, everything they hold dear. And that, before he is ready, he will be forced to surrender his friend to the hands of Fate. Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

Reviews

I loved it * J.K. Rowling * A captivating retelling of the Iliad and events leading up to it through the point of view of Patroclus: it's a hard book to put down, and any classicist will be enthralled by her characterisation of the goddess Thetis, which carries the true savagery and chill of antiquity * Donna Tartt * At once a scholar's homage to the Iliad and startlingly original work of art by an incredibly talented new novelist ... A book I could not put down * Ann Patchett * Inventive, passionate, uplifting and different ... A truly worthy winner * Joanna Trollope *

Author description

Madeline Miller has a BA and MA from Brown University in Latin and Ancient Greek, and has taught both for over a decade. She has also studied at the Yale School of Drama, specialising in adapting classical tales to a modern audience. The Song of Achilles, her first novel, was awarded the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction and was a New York Times Bestseller. It has been translated into twenty-three languages including Dutch, Mandarin, Japanese, Turkish, Arabic and Greek. Madeline was also shortlisted for the 2012 Stonewall Writer of the Year, and her essays have appeared in a number of publications including the Guardian and Wall Street Journal. She currently lives in Narberth, MA, where she is working on her second novel. madelinemiller.com