Five from the Shelf: Mythical Retellings

Over the past few years, mythical retellings have appeared on countless awards shortlists, with some of our most respected and loved authors reaching into the past for inspiration.

While many readers have been attracted to these stories thanks to a residual affection for our primary school history lessons, within these tales we have found reflections on our lives today.

1. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The First of Miller’s novels to appear in this list, the Song of Achilles is the reimagining of the Trojan war from the perspective of Patroclus, Achilles’ beloved friend. Miller brings the battlefield alive with such spectacular detail, plunging us into violence and tragedy.

But what is most mesmerising about her novel is the depiction of the bittersweet romance between the two soldiers. While he remains a minor character in the Iliad, here Patroclus is the beat heart of the novel. His steadfast loyalty to the man he loves will move many a reader, shifting the focus away from our classical hero Achilles, onto his most faithful friend.

2. Homefire by Kamil Shamsie.

Based on the story of Antigone, Homefire is one of the most harrowing reads of recent years. This loose retelling follows sisters Isma and Aneeka as they struggle to come to terms with the decisions of the men in their family, Home Fire is brimming with tension as increasingly disturbing revelations slowly seep thorough its pages. As the girls' family history becomes entangled with that of a British MP, Shamsie explores loyalty, Britishness and the desperation to belong. The novels numbing conclusion will haunt the reader long after the last page.

3. Girl Meets Boy. Ali Smith Perhaps the most removed from the source material of all of these, Smith’s Girl Meets Boy formed part of Canongate’s Myths series, which began in the mid 2000s. This is a retelling of the myth of Iphis, and explores love between two women, gender fluidity and homophobia, set within a corporation with unscrupulous ethics. Working for a Scottish bottled water company, Girl Meets Boy follows two sisters, Anthea who becomes besotted by the enigmatic environmental protester Robin and her sister Midge. More restrained than her sister, Midge is confined by the toxic masculinity of her workplace. She loses weight, dresses uncomfortably and shuns her sister, all for fear that she will be condemned by the prejudice of those she works with.

4. Circe by Madeline Miller

With a greater focus on the magical, Miller’s second novel maintains the humanity of her first novel while delving into the mystical elements of myth. Again the focus is placed on a minor figure of myth, freeing their stifled voice.

In Miller’s story we follow Circe through her childhood, witnessing her failed romances, antagonistic friendships and the emergence of her magical abilities. One of the joys of Circe is the familiar names that are peppered throughout the story. We are treated to scenes depicting the birth of the Minotaur, romances with Daedalus and of course, an alternative perspective of Odysseus' men.

Perhaps one of the novels most interesting elements is Circe’s battle with guilt, and the ways this shapes her story. After dooming a love rival to a life of monstrosity, Circe is haunted by the impact this youthful mistake continues to have upon her throughout her life.

5. The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman

Like Ali Smith’s book, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ was written as part of Canongate’s Myth series. This time we have a new take on Christian lore, with a unique reimagining of the life of Jesus Christ.

Here Pullman writes of a pair of twins who shaped religion: Jesus, a dominant, much loved man, and his brother Christ, a much more insular figure. Throughout the book we see how Christ influences his more vocal brother, whilst documenting his movements in the hope to spread a formalised account of his teachings. This is a fascinating take on the differing approaches to religion, as one sibling seeks to spread morality, while the other prioritises the creation of a powerful Church.