The Song of Achilles is an audiobook by Madeline Miller, narrated by Frazer Douglas. The unabridged Audible edition runs 11 hrs 15 mins.
Publisher’s Summary
“At once a scholar’s homage to The Iliad and startlingly original work of art by an incredibly talented new novelist….A book I could not put down.”
—Ann Patchett
“Mary Renault lives again!” declares Emma Donoghue, author of Room, referring to The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller’s thrilling, profoundly moving, and utterly unique retelling of the legend of Achilles and the Trojan War. A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived and executed page-turner, Miller’s monumental debut novel has already earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction’s brightest lights—and fans of Mary Renault, Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, and Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series will delight in this unforgettable journey back to ancient Greece in the Age of Heroes.
Audiobook Details
- Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
- Length: 11 hrs 15 mins
- Publisher: Ecco
- Release year: 2012
- Audible category: LGBTQ+ / Romance / Literature & Fiction
Listener Ratings
The Song of Achilles holds an average listener rating of 4.6/5 from 42057 Audible ratings.
On Audible, ratings for this title break down into narration performance and story separately:
- Performance (narration): 4.8/5
- Story: 4.6/5
- 5-star ratings: 75% of all ratings
What Audible Listeners Are Saying
5/5 stars — “Wasn’t Expecting to Like It- BOY! was I wrong!!”
I was familiar with Greek myths- have been fascinated with them since my fifth grade teacher had lived in Greece and fueled my interest and imagination. The author does a magical job of bringing these ancient characters to life and making them human (even if they are gods or half-god). Any Greek tragedy, this book has all the same elements-nosey gods interfering in human lives, conflict, hubris, a tragic hero…. So many! I especially liked the scenes describing characters within the myths; Achilles and. Patroclus (of course), Odysseus, Agamemnon, King Menelaus, Achilles’ mother-I really enjoyed her characterizations and the narrator’s interpretation of their voices. The voice of Achilles’ mother was deliciously villainous and hard to forget. Patroclus because he wasn’t as weak as people thought he was and Achilles because he becomes more that a one dimensional hero. I have seen a few comments that describe this book as "homo porn" and "explicit". I would like to respectfully disagree. This book is set in a different culture and time-the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles has been discussed for HUNDREDS of years. This author isn’t presenting some new fangled twist or a new interpretation of the story. If that makes you uncomfortable, then perhaps this story isn’t for you. Any explicit sex scenes- hetero or homo- make me uncomfortable. I’d like to add that I am a middle aged, married, goes-to-church- three-times-a-week Christian. I am also someone who enjoys well written literature. The two main characters are in a committed relationship and the intimate scenes are more like the old movies where the camera pans up to an open window and the wind gently blows the curtains- things implied but not expressed. The plot is not based on these scenes nor are they gratuitous. They are important because they show the depth of their love and respect and this is really relevant towards the second half of the book and explains their actions and choices. I put off buying this book for some time because of these comments and am so thankful that I overcame my doubts and purchased this book. If you enjoy a beautifully written story (and a well narrated one as well) I encourage you to give this one a try. I’m glad I did.— susan, Audible listener
5/5 stars — “I’d Give This 1,000 Stars If I could”
To be fair, I am not a Greek scholar and know very little about Greek mythology so I’m sure those who are familiar with the topic might find my review too naive. But, based on the story, the plot, and the writing, I was completely and totally gobsmacked by the wonder and beauty of this novel — both in the subject and the way it was conveyed.I was engaged from the first page until the very end, eager to get back to the book as soon as possible. Miller theorizes that Achilles is a homosexual who is deeply in love with Petroclus. (This theory is supported by some Greek scholars.) Some may not like this theory and some may find Miller’s story a bit too homoerotic. But, if you buy into her supposition, you will find yourself engrossed in a beautiful story of love and war and the commitment it takes to engage in both.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration by Frazer Douglas is superb, absolutely one of the best-narrated books I’ve heard in the 8 years I’ve been an Audible subscriber.
This novel (and the audiobook version) instantly flew to the top of my list of favorites. In a word: SUPERB.
— Janna Wong Healy, Audible listener
4/5 stars — “Close to as good as Circe”
I really liked this book. Not quite as good as Circe, but quite original and enjoyable. This is a novel about an odd homosexual relationship between a demigod and a human. It had drama and war and action, but it is primarily about the relationship. If you are at all bothered by such things this book might not be for you or it may be a great book to broaden your outlook. The characters are well written and change naturally. The story is old, but the telling is fresh and interesting. This is a book I would recommend to almost anyone, and I am likely to listen to it again.— Michael, Audible listener
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