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Quick answer: If you read the Iliad, read Homer's Odyssey, then Virgil's Aeneid, Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles and Circe, and Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls. All retell or build on the Trojan War and its heroes.
Homer's Iliad, composed around the eighth century BCE, tells of a few weeks in the tenth year of the Trojan War, the rage of Achilles and the death of Hector. It is the founding poem of Western literature. The books below offer the next steps in the epic tradition, from sequels to modern retellings from new points of view.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Odyssey | Homer | Adult | the great journey |
| The Aeneid | Virgil | Adult | the Roman answer |
| The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller | Adult | Trojan War retold |
| Circe | Madeline Miller | Adult | witch of the Odyssey |
| The Silence of the Girls | Pat Barker | Adult | the Iliad's captives |
| The Women of Troy | Pat Barker | Adult | the aftermath |
| A Thousand Ships | Natalie Haynes | Adult | women of Troy |
| Troy | Stephen Fry | Adult | witty retelling |
| Mythos | Stephen Fry | Adult | witty myths |
| The Penelopiad | Margaret Atwood | Adult | wit and rage |
| The Oresteia | Aeschylus | Adult | Greek tragedy |
| Metamorphoses | Ovid | Adult | myths of change |
| Beowulf | Anonymous | Adult | Anglo-Saxon epic |
| Mythology | Edith Hamilton | Adult | classic guide |
| Gates of Fire | Steven Pressfield | Adult | Thermopylae |
1. The Odyssey by Homer
Odysseus struggles to return home after the war. Adventurous and humane.
Best for: the great journey.
2. The Aeneid by Virgil
Aeneas flees Troy and founds the line of Rome. Grand and thoughtful.
Best for: the Roman answer.
3. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Patroclus tells the story of his love for Achilles. Lyrical and heartbreaking.
Best for: Trojan War retold.
4. Circe by Madeline Miller
The goddess Circe tells her story from exile to power. Lush and thoughtful.
Best for: witch of the Odyssey.
5. The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
The Trojan War told through Briseis. Harsh and powerful.
Best for: the Iliad's captives.
6. The Women of Troy by Pat Barker
The sequel follows the women after the fall of Troy. Bleak and gripping.
Best for: the aftermath.
7. A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
The women of the Trojan War tell their own stories. Witty and sharp.
Best for: women of Troy.
8. Troy by Stephen Fry
Fry retells the story of the Trojan War in a warm, funny voice. A good primer.
Best for: witty retelling.
9. Mythos by Stephen Fry
Fry retells the Greek myths in a warm, funny voice. A good primer.
Best for: witty myths.
10. The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Penelope tells the Odyssey from the underworld. Short and sharp.
Best for: wit and rage.
11. The Oresteia by Aeschylus
The ancient trilogy of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra and Orestes. Powerful and dark.
Best for: Greek tragedy.
12. Metamorphoses by Ovid
A playful collection of transformations. A source for countless later stories.
Best for: myths of change.
13. Beowulf by Anonymous
A hero fights monsters and a dragon. Dark and strong, best in a modern translation.
Best for: Anglo-Saxon epic.
14. Mythology by Edith Hamilton
A clear overview of Greek, Roman and Norse myths. Useful background.
Best for: classic guide.
15. Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield
A surviving squire tells the story of the 300 Spartans. Vivid and harsh.
Best for: Thermopylae.
How to Choose
For the sequel read The Odyssey. For the Roman answer read The Aeneid. For modern retellings choose The Song of Achilles, Circe or A Thousand Ships. For women's viewpoints pick The Silence of the Girls and The Women of Troy. For friendly guides try Stephen Fry or Edith Hamilton. The Iliad is war poetry, so choose a modern translation, such as Emily Wilson's or Robert Fagles's, for readability. The Iliad was composed to be performed aloud, so hearing it in audio form helps catch its rhythm. Audiobooks of Fagles's and Wilson's translations are widely available.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iliad about?
The rage of Achilles and the war between the Greeks and the Trojans.
Who wrote it?
Homer, traditionally.
When was it composed?
Around the eighth century BCE.
Which translation is best?
Emily Wilson, Robert Fagles and Richmond Lattimore are popular.
Do I need to know Greek myths?
It helps, but good editions have notes.
Is it religious?
The gods appear as characters, but it is a literary epic about war and honour.
Is it long?
About 15,000 lines in twenty-four books.
What should I read next?
Try The Odyssey or The Song of Achilles.
Which book here is best for witch of the Odyssey?
Try Circe by Madeline Miller, which suits readers looking for witch of the Odyssey.
Which book here is best for women of Troy?
Try A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes, which suits readers looking for women of Troy.
Which book here is best for wit and rage?
Try The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, which suits readers looking for wit and rage.
Which book here is best for Anglo-Saxon epic?
Try Beowulf by Anonymous, which suits readers looking for Anglo-Saxon epic.
Which book here is best for the Roman answer?
Try The Aeneid by Virgil, which suits readers looking for the Roman answer.
Which book here is best for the Iliad's captives?
Try The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker, which suits readers looking for the Iliad's captives.