A Classics Teacher Turned Novelist And Took Home The Prestigious Orange Prize

American Madeline Miller, a classics teacher turned novelist, took home the prestigious Orange Prize for fiction on Wednesday for her debut book, "The Song of Achilles."
　　
The book retells the story of Patroclus and the legendary warrior Achilles from their first meeting as children to their deaths at the siege of Troy.
　　
Joanna Trollope, who chaired the judging panel, described Miller's retelling of the ancient Greek myth as "inventive, passionate, uplifting and different" at the awards ceremony in London's Royal Festival Hall.
　　
The book retells the story of Patroclus and the legendary warrior Achilles from their first meeting as children to their deaths at the siege of Troy.
　　
Joanna Trollope, who chaired the judging panel, described Miller's retelling of the ancient Greek myth as "inventive, passionate, uplifting and different" at the awards ceremony in London's Royal Festival Hall.
　　
Miller - who spent 10 years writing the book while working as a Greek and Latin teacher - said she was "overwhelmed" and "humble" by the 30,000 pound ($46,000) prize.
　　
Two other Americans had joined Miller on the six-book shortlist for the prize - Cynthia Ozick for "Foreign Bodies" and Ann Patchett for "State of Wonder."
　　
Miller received her prize - and a bronze figurine known as "a Bessie" - at an awards ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday evening.
　　
The Song of Achilles was first published by Bloomsbury in September 2011.
　　
The story sees Patroclus, an awkward young prince, exiled to Phthia where he befriends the strong, beautiful Achilles.
　　
As their relationship deepens, word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped and the pair journey to Troy.
　　
The judges said the legendary love story of Patroclus and Achilles was "told with all the intensity and accuracy that this world of violence and superstition and romance deserves".
　　
Jonathan Ruppin, web editor of Foyles bookshops, said: "Word-of-mouth has been spreading steadily for this stylishly told and fascinatingly detailed story of classical-era same-sex romance involving literature's ultimate flawed hero."
　　
The Orange Prize for Fiction was set up in 1996 to celebrate and promote English-language fiction written by women throughout the worl