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I confess that I wept when I finished this stunning book by Madeline Miller.

What an absolutely magnificent and captivating book. The imagination of the author is remarkable. It is not just the story but the writing style that truly brings Achilles to life from Greek Mythology.

There are countless excellent reviews of this book and so I will just give a brief outline.

This is the love story and riveting life of Achilles, beginning as a young boy through to the Trojan War. The war came about because of the abduction of Helen, wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta and brother of Agamemnon. Menelaus and the Greeks wanted her back and to avenge Trojan impudence.

Characters such as Agamemnon, Odysseus, Nester, Ajax, Hector and Patroclus indeed add spice throughout, especially the latter.

I was particularly taken with Chiron, the centaur. I found him to be very soothing as he wisely gave advice to Achilles when the latter was staying with him.

Thetis, the mother of Achilles, was a sea nymph and a goddess and appears rather dramatically from time to time. She had a great deal of influence over Achilles, who was brought up with the good and bad prophecies of the gods.

To be reread ...