This novel retells the story of the Trojan War from the perspective of Patroclus, a young prince exiled from his homeland after an act of violence. Patroclus forms an inseparable bond with Achilles, the son of the sea goddess Thetis and King Peleus. As they grow up together, they are trained by the centaur Chiron and eventually join the war effort when Helen of Sparta is kidnapped. The story explores their deep love for each other, the pressures of destiny, and the tragic consequences of their choices. Miller incorporates Greek mythology seamlessly, making the gods and their histories integral to the narrative. The book is a poignant exploration of love, bravery, and the human cost of war[2][3][5].
In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.
In this novel, Madeline Miller reimagines the life of Circe, the daughter of the Titan sun god Helios and the nymph Perse. Circe, who is neither as powerful as her father nor as alluring as her mother, finds her own path through the discovery of witchcraft. After being banished to the island of Aiaia by Zeus, Circe hones her magical abilities and encounters various figures from Greek mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus, Icarus, Medea, and Odysseus. The story explores themes of identity, love, loss, and female strength in a patriarchal world. Circe's journey is marked by her transformation from an outcast to a powerful goddess who must choose between her divine heritage and her love for mortals.
The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges. Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage. With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne. The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.
Edith Hamilton's 'Mythology' is a definitive guide to the myths of Western culture, covering Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology. The book is divided into several sections, including the gods, creation and early heroes, stories of love and adventure, the great heroes of the Trojan War, and lesser myths. It also includes a brief section on Norse mythology. Hamilton's work brings these ancient stories to life, highlighting their influence on art, literature, and cultural inquiry from antiquity to the present. The book serves both as a reference text for scholars and a readable guide for general audiences[2][3][5].
Autobiography of Red is a verse novel by Anne Carson, published in 1998. It is based loosely on the myth of Geryon and the Tenth Labor of Herakles, but transposes Geryon's story into the modern world, where he is a moody, artsy, gay teenage boy navigating the complexities of sex, love, and identity. The book explores themes of identity, monstrosity, and the human experience of love and trauma.
If Not, Winter presents all the extant fragments of Sappho's poetry, translated by Anne Carson, who meticulously preserves the original Greek text alongside her English translations. The book explores Sappho's intense emotional experiences, particularly her love for women, and her invocation of the gods, especially Aphrodite. Carson's approach invites readers to engage with the gaps in the text, reflecting on the impermanence of human creations and the power of imagination.
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to introduce a conversation on this show as fun. But this one was. I needed it. Maybe you do, too.
Madeline Miller has written some of my favorite novels of the past few years. Her books — the Orange Prize-winning The Song of Achilles and the New York Times No. 1 bestseller Circe, soon to be an HBO series — are brilliant reimaginings of some of the most revered texts in the Western canon. Miller’s also a trained classicist, a Shakespeare director, a Latin teacher, and a Greek mythology obsessive.
This is a conversation about story and myth, about how our conceptions of godliness and human nature have changed, about the difficulty of translation and the resonance of superheroes. We debate whether Achilles is the worst and agree that anyone who loves language should read Sandra Boynton. Miller reveals how to train yourself to write a beautiful sentence and how to steel yourself to tell the stories you burn to see but that the canon has wiped out. And we discuss what character from the Greek canon most resembles President Donald Trump.
This one was a tonic for me. Hopefully, it will be for you, too.
Book recommendations:
The Odyssey by Homer (translated by Emily Wilson)
Mythos by Stephen Fry
Heroes by Stephen Fry
If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho by Anne Carson
Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson
Mythology by Edith Hamilton
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The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
