Song of Achilles: Homeric fan fiction (obvs.)
I just finished Madeline Miller's Song of Achilles, which is a lovely rewrite of Homer (and much that falls outside of Homer) from Patroklos's POV. I have quibbles, but then I always do. It is in many ways a very similar take to my own, and any differences I have are minor.
There is an interview with the author in the paratext of my edition, by Gregory Maguire (he of another well-received rewrite), who asks, basically, how she gathered up the nerve to rewrite Homer.
The last paragraph of her answer:
"I will say that at some point a friend of mine--let's be honest, an ex-boyfriend--referred to the story as 'Homeric fan fiction." That was fairly dampening. But I decided: so be it. If it's fan fiction, it's fan fiction. I'm still going to write it."
I kind of just want to pat her on the head and say, "It's okay honey. You're in really good company."
In related news, I'm writing the Vergil chapter right now. Back to it!
Also posted at http://kouredios.dreamwidth.org/250398.html ; feel free to comment there if you so choose: add comment/
comments.
There is an interview with the author in the paratext of my edition, by Gregory Maguire (he of another well-received rewrite), who asks, basically, how she gathered up the nerve to rewrite Homer.
The last paragraph of her answer:
"I will say that at some point a friend of mine--let's be honest, an ex-boyfriend--referred to the story as 'Homeric fan fiction." That was fairly dampening. But I decided: so be it. If it's fan fiction, it's fan fiction. I'm still going to write it."
I kind of just want to pat her on the head and say, "It's okay honey. You're in really good company."
In related news, I'm writing the Vergil chapter right now. Back to it!
Also posted at http://kouredios.dreamwidth.org/250398.html ; feel free to comment there if you so choose: add comment/
comments.