Alex Michaelides recommends 6 books influenced by mythology
The author recommends works by Madeline Miller, Stephen Fry, and more

Alex Michaelides is the author of The Silent Patient, a psychological thriller that became a No. 1 best-seller. His second novel, The Maidens, also draws on Greek myth, as death stalks the female acolytes of a charismatic classics professor.
Mythos by Stephen Fry (2019).
Growing up on the island of Cyprus, I was immersed in Greek mythology from a young age, and it has been a powerful source of inspiration for me. So I first must recommend Mythos. Not only does Stephen Fry record all the (often unwieldy) genealogies and stories, he retells the myths with such style and readability. Mythos is an epic achievement, both educational and hugely entertaining. I love this book. Buy it here.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (2012).
I'm very excited by the increasing interest in retelling Greek mythology, in taking it apart and putting it back together to provide a modern perspective. Miller retells the story of the Trojan War from the point of view of Patroclus, reframing the story so it becomes about the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles, and the love they had for each other. Buy it here.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Circe by Madeline Miller (2018).
Reclaiming Circe from Odysseus' (and Homer's) narrative, Miller recasts this supporting player, this "baddie," as a troubled and fascinating heroine, at once ancient and modern. Miller's Circe is an exploration of what it means to be an independent woman in a man's world. Buy it here.
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker (2018).
Barker similarly plucked from The Iliad the relatively minor character of Briseis and elevated her from a pawn in the dispute between Achilles and Agamemnon into narrator of the novel. Buy it here.
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes (2019).
I had the pleasure of witnessing this book being brought to life by an incredible cast of female actors in a series of monologues, a kind of Vagina Monologues for the ancient Greeks. Haynes gives a voice — or rather, many voices — to the marginalized, forgotten, and silenced women of the Trojan War. Buy it here.
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint (2021).
This is a retelling of the myth of Theseus and the Mino-taur from a female point of view — specifically Ariadne's perspective, examining her love for Theseus. She was prepared to betray her family and her country for him, and Saint considers her huge sacrifices in the context of her upbringing and the world around her. Buy it here.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.
-
Today's political cartoons - March 23, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - alphabet censorship, American de-education, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 unlawfully funny cartoons about the Executive vs the Judiciary
Cartoons Artists take on halting deportations, attacking judges, and more
By The Week US Published
-
What is the the Mar-a-Lago accord?
Talking Point A Maga economic blueprint proposes upending the global financial system. Could it fly?
By The Week UK Published
-
Abdulrazak Gurnah's 6 favorite books about war and colonialism
Feature The Nobel Prize winner recommends works by Michael Ondaatje, Toni Morrison, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Elliot Ackerman’s 6 favorite books on war and duty
Feature The Marine veteran recommends works by Robert A. Heinlein, John le Carré, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Xochitl Gonzalez’s 6 favorite books that shaped her storytelling
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Stephen King, Julian Barnes, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Jason Isaacs's 6 favorite books that changed his perception on life
Feature The British actor recommends works by George Orwell, C.S. Lewis, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Tessa Bailey's 6 favorite books for hopeless romantics
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Lyla Sage, Sally Thorne, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Pagan Kennedy's 6 favorite books that inspire resistance
Feature The author recommends works by Patrick Radden Keefe, Margaret Atwood, and more
By The Week US Published
-
John Sayles' 6 favorite works that left a lasting impression
Feature The Oscar-nominated screenwriter recommends works by William Faulkner, Carson McCullers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Jojo Moyes' 6 favorite books with strong female characters
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Lisa Taddeo, Claire Keegan, and more
By The Week US Last updated