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Every book Madeline Miller recommended on podcasts
Madeline Miller is an acclaimed novelist who appears on literary interview programs such as The Book Review to discuss classical mythology, ancient epics, and the enduring resonance of ancient Greek literature in contemporary writing. As an author deeply rooted in classical traditions, Miller offers thoughtful reading recommendations designed to make intimidating ancient texts accessible to modern audiences. She frequently encourages readers approaching Homer's The Odyssey to embrace its origins as an oral tradition and recommends beginning with its companion epic, The Iliad, to fully appreciate the contrasting heroism of Achilles. To deepen an understanding of the ancient Greek perspective on Odysseus, Miller suggests exploring Sophocles' tragedy Philoctetes. In addition to ancient works, she recommends modern adaptations and thematic companion pieces that converse with classical mythology, including Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad, which examines the events of the epic from Penelope's viewpoint and highlights the plight of enslaved women. Expanding beyond classical antiquity, Miller also endorses Richard Adams's Watership Down as a powerful demonstration of epic storytelling in an unexpected setting, alongside Tayari Jones's contemporary novel An American Marriage for readers seeking a story in direct conversation with the motifs of the Odyssey.
Books recommended by Madeline Miller
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The Iliad
The Iliad by Homer is an foundational ancient Greek epic poem that chronicles the wrath of Achilles during the final weeks of the Trojan War, exploring themes of glory, mortality, and the devastating psychological costs of combat.
Discussed“I my very very first readings of both the Iliad and the Odyssey came sort of listening to them because my mother who also loved classics uh would read me bedtime stories from selections from the Iliad and the Odyssey uh when I was a child”
Where to get it
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The Odyssey
The Odyssey by Homer is an ancient Greek epic poem that follows the arduous ten-year journey of Odysseus returning home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
Discussed“I my very very first readings of both the Iliad and the Odyssey came sort of listening to them because my mother who also loved classics uh would read me bedtime stories from selections from the Iliad and the Odyssey uh when I was a child”
Where to get it
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An American Marriage
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones is an acclaimed contemporary novel that explores the devastating impact of a wrongful conviction on a newlywed couple in the American South.
Recommended“So, first of all, a great place to start is An American Marriage by Tari Jones, which was actually inspired by by the Odyssey and is in conversation with it.”
Where to get it
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Philoctetes
Philoctetes by Sophocles is a classic ancient Greek tragedy exploring complex themes of duty, betrayal, and persuasion against the backdrop of the Trojan War.
Recommended“The tragedy by Sophocles is called Filictites. There are lots of good translations out there. So definitely that one to give you kind of a different perspective on um on Odysius from the ancient world.”
Where to get it
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The Buddha in the attic
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka is a poignant novel that follows the lives of Japanese picture brides arriving in the United States during the early twentieth century.
Recommended“This is another a little bit um unusual, but one of my favorite books of all time is Buddha in the Attic. And part of what I love about it is that it's written in the first person plural.”
Where to get it
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The Penelopiad
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood is a 2005 novel that brilliantly retells Homer's epic poem The Odyssey primarily from the perspective of Penelope, while also examining the tragic fates of the enslaved women murdered by Odysseus.
Recommended“Um I'm going to also recommend uh the Penelope ad which is Margaret Atwood's uh sort of Penelopey's version but also gets into some of the enslaved women that Odysius murders.”
Where to get it
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Watership Down
Watership Down by Richard Adams is a classic survival adventure novel that follows a small band of rabbits fleeing the destruction of their warren in search of a safe new home.
Recommended“And I'm going to recommend Watership Down. Watership Down goes to show just how powerful Epic is because you can even write it about rabbits and it's still gripping.”
Where to get it
Books Madeline Miller wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| This Author Says You Shouldn’t Be Intimidated by ‘The Odyssey’ | The Book Review | 2026-07-11 | 14 |