My Greek Crush

How best to describe my current crush ........this picture of Achilles (or Brad posing as Achilles) sums it up. He's a good deal more decorative than the book cover, but The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is just as gorgeous. It is original, addictive, seductive, transporting and an absolute joy. I have been completely distracted by her retelling of the life and times of Achilles, his friendship with Patroclus and the Trojan wars in a way which I would never have thought possible before starting the book. Miller, a classicist who spent 10 years on her interpretation of one of the great Greek tales, has written a book in the finest traditions of story telling which is a curious mix of ancient and modern. The story is rewritten for the modern reader (no prior knowledge is necessary) but still feels entirely classical. I'm sure that purists might regard this as pop classics but what on earth is wrong with that. For more, see previous blog entries: Classic choices for the new year and Orange prize long list. Gaze on him then read and enjoy!