The Song of Achilles
Patroclus narrates the story of his life alongside Achilles, from their youth together to the Trojan War.
Where The Song of Achilles keeps showing up
Two of our editors' lists feature this novel.
Also by Madeline Miller
Books in conversation with The Song of Achilles
A few of the closest reads from our full list.
What you might want to know about The Song of Achilles
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
After accidentally killing a noble's son in his father's hall, young prince Patroclus is exiled to the Phthian court of King Peleus and his god-touched son Achilles. The two boys grow up together under the centaur Chiron on Mount Pelion, and follow the Greek fleet to the long siege of Troy.
Yes. The Song of Achilles won the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction (now the Women's Prize). It was Madeline Miller's debut novel. She has since written Circe (2018) and Galatea (2022).
The Song of Achilles contains some on-page intimacy but is restrained, around 2 to 3 out of 5 on the spice scale. The romance between Achilles and Patroclus is the emotional center but the prose is more elegiac than steamy.
The Song of Achilles contains some on-page intimacy but is restrained, around 2 to 3 out of 5 on the spice scale. The romance between Achilles and Patroclus is the emotional center but the prose is more elegiac than steamy.
The Song of Achilles was written by Madeline Miller, published in 2011 by Bloomsbury Publishing.
The Song of Achilles is 385 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, The Song of Achilles takes most readers 6 to 8 hours to finish.
The Song of Achilles is a standalone novel by Madeline Miller, not part of a series.
The Song of Achilles is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.
