What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Song of Achilles
Madeline Miller · Book · 2012
If you loved The Song of Achilles, start with Troy (Wolfgang Petersen, 2004) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Song of Achilles across media.
What hooked you in The Song of Achilles was the way epic, sweeping history becomes a quiet, devastatingly intimate love story.
Films on the same thread
Troy
Wolfgang Petersen · Film · 2004
Shares a thread with The Song of Achilles: Fate vs. Free Will.
If you enjoyed the grand scale of The Song of Achilles, this film offers a visceral, cinematic look at the same legendary conflict and its tragic, inescapable consequences.
Red, White & Royal Blue
Matthew López · Film · 2023
Shares a thread with The Song of Achilles: Forbidden Love.
Like the central bond in The Song of Achilles, this story centers on a forbidden romance that must navigate the immense pressure of public perception and political scrutiny.
Sophie's Choice
Alan J. Pakula · Film · 1982
Explores: Trauma, Guilt, Memory.
The Song of Achilles captures a deep sense of fated tragedy, a feeling mirrored here as characters struggle against the crushing weight of their past and inevitable loss.
The Odyssey
Film · 2026
Explores: Divine Intervention, Nostalgia for Home, Hubris.
This odyssey echoes the mythological landscape of The Song of Achilles, focusing on the heavy toll that the aftermath of war takes on those who survive the battlefield.
Series on the same thread
Patrick Melrose
David Nicholls · Series · 2018
Explores: Trauma, Addiction, Upper-class dysfunction.
Much like the internal journey of Patroclus in The Song of Achilles, this series provides an unflinching, character-driven examination of trauma and the long path toward personal reconciliation.
House of the Dragon
George R. R. Martin · Series · 2022
Explores: Succession, Power Struggles, Dynastic Conflict.
The Song of Achilles highlights how personal relationships are tested by dynastic power; this series explores those same high-stakes tensions within a collapsing, tradition-bound family empire.
Fellow Travelers
Ron Nyswaner · Series · 2023
Shares a thread with The Song of Achilles: Forbidden Love.
This series captures the same poignant, forbidden longing found in The Song of Achilles, depicting a secret love that is constantly threatened by the hostility of the outside world.
Heated Rivalry
Jacob Tierney · Series · 2025
Shares a thread with The Song of Achilles: Forbidden Love.
Just as Achilles and Patroclus find intimacy through shared ambition, this story explores how a competitive rivalry between two men evolves into a complex, hidden, and deeply personal love.
Podcasts on the same thread
Chasing The Sun - Season 1 [Audioserye]
Podcast
Explores: struggling student, poverty, abuse.
The Song of Achilles relies on the strength of its protagonist's internal voice; this story offers a similarly raw, personal account of navigating life's harshest realities and inevitable growth.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
If you appreciated the focus on domestic connection within the context of The Song of Achilles, you will find a similar commitment to exploring deep-rooted, long-term human relationships here.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Song of Achilles based on a historical period?
Yes, The Song of Achilles is set in Greece during the age of heroes. The narrative follows the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles as they grow into men skilled in the arts of war and medicine within the court of King Peleus.
What is the central relationship in The Song of Achilles?
The central relationship in The Song of Achilles is the bond between Patroclus, an exiled young prince, and Achilles, the son of King Peleus. As the two young men grow up together, their friendship develops into a deeper romantic connection despite the disapproval of Achilles.
Did The Song of Achilles win any awards?
The Song of Achilles, written by Madeline Miller and published in 2012, was the winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2012. The novel focuses on the lives of Patroclus and Achilles as they navigate their bond during their time in Greece.
How are the characters Patroclus and Achilles described in The Song of Achilles?
In The Song of Achilles, Patroclus is described as an awkward young prince who has been exiled. In contrast, Achilles is depicted as the perfect son of King Peleus. The story follows their evolving connection as they transition from childhood into young men.