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What Are The Best Books About Achilles And Patroclus?

Specifically seeking romantic historical fiction retellings of the Trojan War that truly center their legendary bond beyond just The Song of Achilles.
2025-09-09 13:32:29
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5 Answers

Best Answer
Nick
Nick
Caroline Alexander, who also translated The Iliad, wrote a really great book about it called The War That Killed Achilles. I’ve read The Iliad a couple of times and done some reading on Greek and Mycenaean military history, but this book still made the people and the historical context click for me in a way a lot of other stuff didn’t.
2026-08-05
Jack
Jack
Achilles is a secondary character in a novel I wrote, if you're interested. It's called Found in Erebus. It doesn't include the Trojan War, though, it happens entirely in the Underworld.
2025-09-10
Andrew
Andrew
I just picked up The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker. Haven’t read it yet, but from the reviews it sounds like there’s plenty of Achilles in it, just told from the perspective of Briseis, his captive. Basically The Iliad from the women’s side of the story. Seems worth checking out.
2025-09-13
Becky Lynn Everhart
Becky Lynn Everhart
I would be very interested in you found something. Unfortunate, The Mortal Hero: An Introduction to Homer's Iliad Seth L. Schein mentions there’s little recorded mythology about Patroklos outside the Iliad.
2026-07-30
Xujinli
Xujinli
I'm not sure how true or reliable it is unfortunately, but if you haven't read the song of achilles i would highly recommend it! it is the story of patroclus and achilles, and it's told from patroclus' point of view. it's by Madeline Miller and honestly one of the best books i've ever read.
2026-08-06

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