The love Achilles and Patrocles had for each other is among the greatest in literature and an important theme in Homer's Iliad . In her extraordinary debut novel The Song of Achilles (Ecco, $25.95), Madeline Miller retells the story from Patrocles' perspective.
The son of King Menoitius, Patrocles is exiled for accidentally killing another boy in self-defense. With suitable treasure for his maintenance, he's sent to Phthia, ruled by King Peleus, whose son by the sea nymph Thetis is beautiful, golden-haired, green-eyed Achilles. Patrocles is one of many young boys at the court, all of whom are enthralled by Achilles, who, even as a child, is called Aristos Achaion, Best of the Greeks. His will be a short, glorious life.
Patrocles is small, chubby, plain-looking. To his amazement �" and that of the other boys �" Achilles befriends him. Soon, the prince asks his father to let Patrocles share his room. Peleus sends them to spend several years under the tutelage of the kindly, wise centaur, Chiron. He teaches them the arts of war, at which Achilles excels. Patrocles isn't a warrior, but he learns about herbs and medicines. Both boys are taught to play the lyre, another talent Achilles possesses.
Thetis, however, loathes Patrocles, whom she considers unworthy of her son. She's a frightening figure, large, cold, fiercely protective of Achilles and aware of his fate. Achilles ignores her insistence that he end his friendship with Patrocles. As the boys become teenagers, their relationship intensifies, turning physical as well as spiritual.
After Peleus summons the youths back to his court, Thetis, desperate to save her son, kidnaps him, taking him to the kingdom of Sycros, ruled by King Lycomedes. Achilles is forced to dress like a girl and to secretly marry Lycomedes' daughter, Deademia. Patrocles, distraught, persuades Peleus to tell him where his beloved is. Peleus does so, and Patrocles arrives at Sycros, where he and Achilles resume their intense, passionate relationship. Achilles admits to Patrocles that he slept with his wife, twice, an experience that gave him no pleasure. Pregnant, she is desperately in love with him. To her fury, he ignores her. Patrocles is sympathetic to her, knowing how he would feel if Achilles ever became indifferent to him.
Odysseus, prince of Ithaca, and Diomedes, king of Argos, arrive at Sycros with news that Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta, has been kidnaped to Troy by Paris. Menelaus' brother Agamemnon is leading a vast Greek army to bring her back. Initially, the crafty Odysseus pretends not to recognize Achilles in his female garb or Patrocles, but soon exposes them, asking them to join the army. Achilles isn't interested. Patrocles is relieved. Each moment together is precious.
Eventually, Achilles joins the Greek army. He and Agamemnon clash, Achilles refusing to subordinate himself to the older man. At Aulis, Agamemnon is forced to sacrifice his daughter Iphignia to secure a wind so that the fleet of 1,000 ships can sail to Troy. Once there, Achilles proves himself an unequaled warrior, killing one Trojan after another, defying all their spears and arrows. Patrocles doesn't fight, but tends the wounded, using the knowledge he gained from Chiron. They share a tent.
Agamemnon and Achilles quarrel over Briseis, a beautiful girl captured by the Greeks. Achilles demands her for himself �" he, as Aristos Achaion, is entitled to the first choice of spoils. Agamemnon refuses, but doesn't dare bed the girl. Achilles, insulted, refuses to fight until she is given to him �" not because he desires her physically �" he doesn't, he only wants Patrocles �" but because his pride has been offended. Without Achilles, the Trojans and their allies begin destroying the Greek army. Odysseus, Ajax, Diomedes, even Agamemnon plead with him to return to battle. He won't until Agamemnon apologizes and gives him Briseis.
The frightened Greeks begin resenting their hero. Patrocles, desperate to save Achilles' reputation, begs him to fight. Achilles refuses, saying, "Ask me anything else." Patrocles then begs to let him don his armor to lead the Greeks, who will think it's Achilles. Achilles had promised, but is terrified, knowing his lover is no warrior. Patrocles insists. Achilles reluctantly agrees. The Greeks are fooled into thinking Achilles has returned to battle. They drive the Trojans back to their city gates. But Patrocles is killed by Hector. The grief-stricken Achilles is inconsolable. His vengeance is extraordinary, fulfilling the childhood prophecy about him.
In his recent translation of the Iliad, Stephen Mitchell argues that while ancients (including Alexander the Great and his beloved, Hephastion) and moderns have assumed Achilles and Patrocles were lovers, Homer doesn't explicitly state it. What did Mitchell expect? Perhaps something like, "The moans from Achilles' tent as he and Patrocles made love kept the other Greeks awake each night."
Miller, who has a BA and MA in Latin and Ancient Greek from Brown, knows the material well and accepts the traditional interpretation of the heroes' feelings for each other. Her deceptively simple prose superbly recreates the world of Archaic Greece. Mortals, gods, and mythological creatures blend naturally. Thetis' appearances are comparable to the sightings of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes and Fatima. Miller unflinchingly, easily conveys the complete love Achilles and Patrocles share. This is a bildungsroman, a homoerotic coming-of-age story that is beautifully told. The last few chapters would bring tears to obsidian eyes. The Song of Achilles is worthy of a place alongside Mary Renault's classic The Last of the Wine and Marguerite Yourcenar's majestic The Memoirs of Hadrian .