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The Song of Achilles
The 10th Anniversary edition of the Women's Prize-winning bestseller
The Song of Achilles
The 10th Anniversary edition of the Women's Prize-winning bestseller
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Description
Greece in the age of Heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia. Here he is nobody, just another unwanted boy living in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles.
Achilles, 'best of all the Greeks', is everything Patroclus is not - strong, beautiful, the child of a goddess - and by all rights their paths should never cross. Yet one day, Achilles takes the shamed prince under his wing and soon their tentative companionship gives way to a steadfast friendship. As they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something far deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel and deathly pale sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.
Fate is never far from the heels of Achilles. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows Achilles into war, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they have learned, everything they hold dear. And that, before he is ready, he will be forced to surrender his friend to the hands of Fate.
Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.
Product details
Published | 01 Sep 2012 |
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Format | Paperback |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 200 |
ISBN | 9789382563785 |
Imprint | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Dimensions | 234 x 153 mm |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors
Reviews
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A captivating retelling of the Iliad and events leading up to it through the point of view of Patroclus: it's a hard book to put down, and any classicist will be enthralled by her characterisation of the goddess Thetis, which carries the true savagery and chill of antiquity
DONNA TARTT, The Times
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This is a deeply affecting version of the Achilles story: a fully threedimensional man – a son, a father, husband and lover – now exists where a superhero previously stood and fought
Observer
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Extraordinary ... Beautifully descriptive and heart-achingly lyrical, this is a love story as sensitive and intuitive as any you will find
Daily Mail
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I loved it
J K ROWLING
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A remarkably fresh take on one of the most familiar narratives in western literature
The Times
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Mary Renault lives again! A ravishingly vivid and convincing version of one of the most legendary of love stories
EMMA DONOGHUE