A true modern masterpiece of queer literature and one of the best Greek mythology books out there.īuy a copy of The Song of Achilles here! Circe by Madeline Miller This is a story many of us know, but Madeline Miller has made sure to put the romantic and fraternal relationship between Patroclus and Achilles at the forefront. The second half retells the Trojan War from an intimate perspective, as Patroclus and Achilles speed to Troy, and to the fates we all know are waiting for them both. We see his childhood, his banishment, his teen years spent training with - and falling in love with - Achilles. In the first half, we are told the story through the eyes of Patroclus.
This is the story of Achilles and his lover, friend, and brother-in-arms Patroclus. The Song of Achillesrewrites the story of ancient Greece’s most treasured hero, reinjecting into it the queerness that academic history has gradually removed. Greek Myths is a gorgeous, detailed book on Greek mythology, retold by an expert in the field of classics, and one of the definitive best Greek mythology books on the shelves right now.īuy a copy of Greek Myths here! The Song of Achilles by Madeline MillerĪrguably the book that kicked off this entire genre of novels that retell Greek myths and legends, and the reason we’re talking about the best Greek mythology books at all! But, as she mentioned in the interview, she avoids using “the h-word”, given how outdated it seems today to refer to war criminals as heroes.
The gods and heroes of Greek mythology are all here their stories are all retold beautifully by Higgins. And so Higgins uses this visual method to create her own framing device. In an interview with Charlotte Higgins which we attended, she discussed the historical importance of visual storytelling through objects like tapestries, pottery, and even Achilles’ shield. Greek Myths puts the women of Greek mythology at the front, using a framing device of tapestry weaving to tell its narratives. If you’re looking for the best Greek mythology books that cover everything from the creation myths, the titans, and the gods, all the way to the events of the Trojan War, this is the book you need.
Almost all the books on this list of the best Greek mythology books focus on correcting this.īut the only book that is taking on this challenge in the form of a complete compendium, rather than a novelised single story, is Greek Myths by Charlotte Higgins. The stories of Greek mythology - whether they be about gods, heroes, or monsters - have a nasty habit of focussing on the exploits of men.
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