Author: Madeline Miller
Published: September 2011
Pages: 378
A tender, human retelling of an iliadic epic told a thousand times over, but never like this. Achilles is son to Thetis, the ruthless sea goddess, and Peleus, Phthia’s illustrious king. Patroclus is an awkward ex-prince with no home and no parents as of late—that is, until the sympathetic Peleus offers him a wardship. The boys are trained side by side in the arts of battle and medicine by the centaur, Chiron. And their bond matures with them from boyhood to adolescence, from a friendship to something resembling love. Helen's kidnapping spirals Greece into war, with Sparta’s mightiest heroes assailing Troy in her name. Achilles—in chase of greatness—and Patroclus—in chase of Achilles—rally. But Patroclus is no Achilles. He is not a champion of war nor speed nor stamina, and his paternity is not semi-divine. He is outmatched and out of his depth. And both are up against the gods’ wrath.
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