“That is — your friend?" "Philtatos," Achilles replied, sharply. Most beloved.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Achilles weeps. He cradles me, and will not eat, nor speak a word other than my name.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Patroclus, he says, Patroclus. Patroclus. Over and over until it is sound only.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“When I am dead, I charge you to mingle our ashes and bury us together.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“I could not make him a god,' she says. Her jagged voice, rich with grief. But you made him.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“One morning, I woke to find Chiron gone. This was not unusual. He often rose before we did, to milk the goats… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“This is what Achilles will feel like when he is old. And then I remembered: he will never be old.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
There is no law that gods must be fair, Achilles,” Chiron said. “And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Those seconds, half seconds, that the line of our gaze connected, were the only moment in my day that I felt anything… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“I think: this is what I will miss. I think: I will kill myself rather than miss it. I think: how long… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“We reached for each other, and I thought of how many nights I had lain awake loving him in silence.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Priam's eyes find the other body, mine, lying on the bed. He hesitates a moment. 'That is --- your friend?' 'Philtatos,' Achilles… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“The never-ending ache of love and sorrow. Perhaps in some other life I could have refused, could have torn my hair and… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“There is no law that gods must be fair, Achilles,' Chiron said. 'And perhaps it is a greater grief, after all, to… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Peleus acknowledged this. "Yet other boys will be envious that you have chosen such a one. What will you tell them?" "I… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“I have done it,' she says. At first I do not understand. But then I see the tomb, and the marks she… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“I conjure the boy I knew. Achilles, grinning as the figs blur in his hands. His green eyes laughing into mine. Catch,… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“I have done it," she says. At first I do not understand. But then I see the tomb, and the marks she… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Achilles was looking at me. “Your hair never quite lies flat, here.” He touched my head, just behind my ear. “I don’t… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Briseis is kneeling by my body. She has brought water and cloth, and washes the blood and dirt from my skin. Her… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“He looked different in sleep, beautiful but cold as moonlight. I found myself wishing he would wake so that I might watch… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Achilles’ eyes lift. They are bloodshot and dead. “I wish he had let you all die.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Her mouth tightens. 'Have you no more memories?' I am made of memories. 'Speak, then.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“As for the goddess’s answer, I did not care. I would have no need of her. I did not plan to live… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“But then he was awake, his lips forming a half-sleepy greeting, and his hand was already reaching for mine. We lay there,… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
In making Achilles and Patroclus lovers, I wasn't trying to speak for all gay men, just as when I write straight characters,… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Later Achilles would play the lyre, as Chiron and I listened. My mother's lyre. He had brought it with him. 'I wish… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“But you were the one who really taught him healing," Achilles said. "I was." "You do not mind that the snake gets… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“The heat rose up my neck, wrapped fingers over my face. His hair fell around me, and I could smell nothing but… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“I saw then how I had changed. I did not mind anymore that I lost when we raced and I lost when… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“This was a man who moved like the gods were watching: every gesture he made was upright and correct. There was no one else… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Patroclus, he says, Patroclus. Patroclus. Over and over until it is sound only.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“Briseis is kneeling by my body. She has brought water and cloth, and washes the blood and dirt from my skin. Her hands are… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
Odysseus inclines his head. "True. But fame is a strange thing. Some men gain glory after they die, while others fade. What is admired… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“I would like to say that all the while I waited to break out, but the truth is, I'm afraid I might have floated… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“I gaped at the cold shock of his beauty, deep-green eyes, features fine as a girl's. It struck from me a sudden, springing dislike.… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
I found myself grinning until my cheeks hurt, my scalp prickling till I thought it might lift off my head. My tongue ran away… — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
“When he died, all things soft and beautiful and bright would be buried with him.” — Madeline Miller Copy Share Image
