Contemporary Fiction inspired by Greek Myths - CUB BOOK CLUB

Fantasising about an ancient time: Contemporary fiction inspired by Greek myths

Book Club

Tabitha Cranford

When asked for book recommendations everyone always has the same answer, Madeline Miller’s Song of Achilles. Once you have read Miller’s novel you then become a person who also recommends Songs of Achilles, and you begin to search for your next Hellenic read. So, look no further than this comprehensive guide to the best contemporary fiction inspired by Greek myths!

This article is not exhaustive, nor are the recommendations particularly original, but they are verified by a lover of Greek mythology and by a reader who was devasted by Miller’s final page – if you know, you know.

It is only natural that I begin by recommending Miller’s second novel Circe. Inspired by the witch who appears in Homer’s The Odyssey,

Miller’s feminist retelling of Circe’s background and life of exile is perhaps even more moving than Song of Achilles. I have difficulty in deciding which novel I prefer and have thus concluded that they are magical in their own ways. Song of Achilles is a powerful retelling of the Trojan war hero and his lover through a single narrative on the war and the story of fated lovers. Circe, on the other hand, has a more complex narrative with multiple myths entwined, changing the patriarchal discourse surrounding the witch. Miller’s fictional Achilles is recognisable in other retellings of Troy; however, her characterisation of Circe is new and original compared to traditional mythology.

Look no further than Stephen Fry’s outstanding Greek series Mythos, Heroes, and Troy if you want to learn about the beginnings of mythology. These non-fictional accounts are the perfect companion to understanding the origins of the myths and the traditional accounts of every hero and event. I would also recommend the beautiful guide to mythology; The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to Classical Stories by Philip Matyszak. Between Matyszak and Fry, these companions to the fiction are excellent sources on the origins of the mythos.

From one historian to another, Natalie Haynes has not only written two wonderful fictions, A Thousand Ships and The Children of Jocasta, she also has a fantastic podcast Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics. Haynes’s commentaries always have wonderful

threads of history running through them. Her narratives are constantly informed by a variety of myth retellings and variations, resulting in a lovely blend of diverse accounts from Ovid to Euripides. I particularly appreciate her portrayal of Helen of Troy, which offers depth to the world’s most beautiful woman. From one feminist retelling to another, my next fictional recommendation would be Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. Easily devourable in a single sitting, Ariadne retells the legend of the Minotaur, Theseus and Dionysus, again through a feminist lens, giving a voice to the women of Greece.

My next read will be Haynes’s latest anthology, Pandora’s Jar...