Preview
  • The Song of Achilles

  • A Novel
  • By: Madeline Miller
  • Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
  • Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (37,869 ratings)

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The Song of Achilles

By: Madeline Miller
Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
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Publisher's summary

The legend begins...

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. “The best of all the Greeks”—strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess—Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions. Their bond deepens as they grow into young men and become skilled in the arts of war and medicine—much to the displeasure and the fury of Achilles’ mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.

When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece, bound by blood and oath, must lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

Built on the groundwork of the Iliad, Madeline Miller’s page-turning, profoundly moving, and blisteringly paced retelling of the epic Trojan War marks the launch of a dazzling career.

©2012 Madeline Miller (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Critic reviews

“[Miller] makes a persuasive argument for the timeliness of her subject. …Miller’s winning debut focuses on Patroclus, a young prince living in Achilles’ golden shadow. Miller also gives voice to many of the women who were also consigned to the shadows.” ( Publishers Weekly, Spring 2012 Preview, Top 10 Literary Fiction)
“You don’t need to be familiar with Homer’s The Iliad (or Brad Pitt’s Troy, for that matter) to find Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles spellbinding....her explorations of ego, grief, and love’s many permutations are both familiar and new....[A] timeless love story.” ( O magazine)
“A psychologically astute Iliad prelude featuring the heady, star-crossed adolescence of future heroes Patroclus and Achilles.” ( Vogue)

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Editor's Pick

I will die on this hill
"Periodically I will check up on Frazer Douglas on Audible, just to see if he’s narrated anything else recently that I could devour. He’s like an elusive unicorn narrator, leaving me with this one perfect performance that I have to come back to again and again. My first experience listening to The Song of Achilles—the debut novel of Madeline Miller, who would later be known for her breakout best seller Circe—was transcendental. Really! I don’t use that term lightly. There’s not much that can live up to it in my eyes (even Circe *side-eyes other editors*)."
Melissa B., Audible Editor

What listeners say about The Song of Achilles

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Heartfelt

This was an amazing book, the story and the narration was amazing. The narrators voice was soothing and the story was full of adventure and pulled at the heart strings. Absolutely loved this story.

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So Good.

Really enjoyed this story and the presentation. A little bit of a slowdown in the middle chapters but then it resumes the pacing.

PERFECT narration.

Very different from "Circe" but just as brilliant.

Love this author.

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Loved this book

The author writes such a descriptive account of a beautiful relationship. Such wonderful character development.

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Vivid and Powerful Tale

I grew up loving Greek myths—as a young reader, I came upon stories about the gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus at the library. I was hooked. So, it was with great pleasure that I listened to The Song of Achilles. The beautifully told story by Madeline Miller comes to life through the expressive vocal talent of Frazer Douglas. I highly recommend this for anyone who appreciates a fresh take on an epic myth.

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Excellent Narrator

This was an amazing story. But even the best stories can feel ruined by poor narration. I'm happy to say this was an amazing story brought to life by an incredible narrator. Bravo!

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My soul HURTS

As someone who studied classics I was apprehensive about this story. If you are familiar with the story of Achilles and The Iliad then you knew where Miller was taking you. However I was not prepared for the sense of impending tragedy that the narrator brings. There are so many bright points in the novel, but the way he chose to read them left even the happiest moments bittersweet. The end is a slow burn that hurts more and more with every word.

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Kept me coming back each day

I am a very straight man, and don't really like visualizations men going at it, but this book was beautifully written and the story was amazing. just bought Circe and am listening to it as we speak

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Amazing book!

Absolutely adored every inch of this book! Highly recommend! So different from anything I’ve ever read, such a beautiful love story!!

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Beautiful!

Beautiful prose retelling a timeless story. I am now reading Circe! Great pre-reading for my upcoming trip to Greece.

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new favorite book

this book crushed my soul and it took me days to recover. I loved the narration and the amount of detail. the last 45 minutes had me crying for about 30 of those 45

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