Mestra
short_story · First published 2026
Author guide
Madeline Miller Books in Order
Madeline Miller is an American novelist and classicist. She studied Classics at Brown University, pursued further study at the University of Chicago and Yale School of Drama, and taught Latin, Greek, and Shakespeare for more than fifteen years. Her fiction reimagines Greek myths through intimate, contemporary perspectives, and includes novels, standalone short fiction, and retellings of classical literature.
Mythological fictionHistorical fictionFantasyLiterary fiction
Catalog record updated .
Madeline Miller's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
The Song of Achilles
Miller's debut and defining mythological retelling, offering the clearest introduction to her fiction.
Circe
A self-contained novel that showcases Miller's feminist reimagining of Greek myth and her mature storytelling.
Galatea
A concise standalone short story for readers who want an introduction through Miller's shorter fiction.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (2)
- The Song of Achilles
novel · 2011
Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. “The best of all the Greeks”—strong, beautiful, and the…
- Circe
novel · 2018
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child -- not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for…
Short fiction (3)
- Heracles' Bow
short_story · 2012
A short story published in a Waterstones Special Edition of The Song of Achilles & 'We Love This Book'.
- Galatea
short_story · 2013
In ancient Greece, a skilled marble sculptor has been blessed by a goddess who has given his masterpiece—the most beautiful woman the town has ever seen—the gift of life. After marrying her, he expects Galatea to please him, to be…
- Mestra
short_story · 2026
Frequently asked questions about Madeline Miller
Who is Madeline Miller, and what is her background?
Madeline Miller is an American novelist and classicist who grew up in New York City and Philadelphia. She studied Classics at Brown University and later pursued study at the University of Chicago and Yale School of Drama.
Sources: madelinemiller.com (opens in a new tab)womensprize.com (opens in a new tab)
What did Madeline Miller do before becoming a novelist?
She taught and tutored Latin, Greek, and Shakespeare to high-school students for more than fifteen years. She also worked in theater, including directing Shakespeare productions and founding a Shakespeare program.
Sources: madelinemiller.com (opens in a new tab)arts.gov (opens in a new tab)
What inspired Madeline Miller to write about Greek mythology?
Miller has loved Greek myths since childhood and studied Latin and Greek throughout school. Her experience co-directing Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida helped her realize that she wanted to retell classical stories herself.
Sources: madelinemiller.com (opens in a new tab)arts.gov (opens in a new tab)
What awards has Madeline Miller won?
Her debut novel won the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction, making her the fourth debut novelist to receive the award. Her later novel Circe also won several honors, including the Indies Choice Best Adult Fiction Award and an American Library Association Alex Award.
Sources: womensprize.com (opens in a new tab)madelinemiller.com (opens in a new tab)
What is Madeline Miller’s literary legacy?
Miller is recognized for making classical mythology accessible through intimate, psychologically rich retellings, often giving greater agency to figures whose perspectives were marginalized in older texts. Her work has also helped frame ancient stories as relevant to modern questions about identity, power, love, and gender.
Sources: arts.gov (opens in a new tab)arts.gov (opens in a new tab)