Ransom

By David Malouf,

Book cover of Ransom

Book description

In his first novel in more than a decade, award-winning author David Malouf reimagines the pivotal narrative of Homer’s Iliad—one of the most famous passages in all of literature.
 
This is the story of the relationship between two grieving men at war: fierce Achilles, who has lost his beloved Patroclus…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Ransom as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

An interpretation of part of The Iliad where King Priam journeys to Achilles' camp to beg for the return of his son Hector's body. Malouf gives us access to Priam's thoughts and feelings as he dresses as a carter and drives straight into the enemy camp, wondering at all the things that, as a king, he has never noticed before. Once in the camp, he must face the man who has been dragging his son's body behind his chariot day after day, only to wake up each morning and find it magically restored. This is a story about those who…

Want books like Ransom?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 57 books like Ransom.

Browse books like Ransom

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the Iliad, Homer, and the Trojan War?

The Iliad 39 books
Homer 29 books
The Trojan War 40 books