There is no doubt that the book is a precursor to many YA novels which feature openly Queer relationships, from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (released only a year later in 2012) to the more recent, and just as critically acclaimed, Red, White and Royal Blue (2019).Ī 2020 article titled “Eros and Tragedy: How ‘ The Song of Achilles’ Revolutionized Classics” interprets the book as actively pushing back against Ancient Greek stereotypes of gay relationships. The Song of Achilles’ success, however, occurred not in spite of the openly Queer relationship, but because of it. In 2018, when Netflix produced Troy: Fall of a City, the fact that Achilles and Patroclus were in a sexual relationship brought the same fury, though not as much as the fact that they were portrayed by two Black actors.
The fact that Brad Pitt’s heterosexual Achilles had graced cinema screens worldwide only a few years earlier, communicating at every opportunity just how virile, powerful, and undoubtedly straight these heroes were, shows how little popular culture may have been ready to accept a decidedly different take on the character. The open focus on a gay relationship in a historical setting, especially one as academically controversial as that between Achilles and Patroclus, was at the time less-than heard of. Though overwhelmingly positively received, an openly LGBTQIA+ book that gave a new spin on such a ‘traditional’ subject matter was an anomaly.
As Arifa Akbar states in the review for The Independent in 2012: “Miller has combined scholarship with imagination to turn the most familiar war epic into a fresh, emotionally riveting and sexy page-turner”.
At the time of its release, it was praised for its narrative choices, style, and use of scholarship (Miller has a background in Classics). At the heart of the story lies the explicitly (in the novel, at least) romantic relationship between the two protagonists.Īn instant success – it won the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction and was shortlisted for many other prizes, as well as becoming a New York Times bestseller. It has a devoted fan following and has been the gateway to an interest in the Classics for many. Madeline Miller’s first book, The Song of Achilles, was originally published in September 2011. The book is a retelling of the story of Achilles from the perspective of Patroclus, an exiled ex-prince, from the pair’s first meeting to Patroclus’ death (the last few chapters are told from the perspective of his ghost). Content Warning: This article discusses instances of enslavement, homophobia and rape.
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