Modern Retellings of Myths Surge in Popularity By: Lindsey Bennett

In recent years, modern retellings of classic myths have surged in popularity on platforms like TikTok. If one finds themselves scrolling on #BookTok (the algorithmic side to TikTok focused on book recommendations and reviews) there is a strong chance one might find a recommendation for these such novels.

Many of these retellings, like Circe or Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, tell classic Greek myths in ways that are easier to understand for readers today. Retellings do not just focus on the popular Greek myths. Novels like Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel reimagine a queen’s life from a classic Indian epic.

These kinds of novels are quite popular. When books begin to trend on #BookTok like some retellings have, their sales skyrocket. Shannon DeVito, director of books at Barnes & Noble, remarked in a New York Times interview about #BookTok, “We haven’t seen these types of crazy sales – I means tens of thousands of copies a month – with other social media formats.”

Figure 1: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller was published in 2011 by HarperCollins.

One might ask why such retellings resonate. After all, are they not just re-writing stories that have been told over-and-over again?

The answer lies with the themes. Take The Song of Achilles by Miller. The author focuses on the character Achilles from Homer’s The Iliad. Achilles is known as being the greatest of all Greek warriors and a hero of the Trojan War.

In Miller’s interpretation, Achilles is in love with his male companion, Patroclus. Miller’s deep dive into the character Achilles reveals the classic character’s inner struggles and battle with heartbreak. Themes which the modern reader can resonate with.

Another take on retellings is to focus on groups that have been historically ignored in some myths. For example, many retellings take a feminist lens on myths that usually focus on men and men’s role in war. In Miller’s Circe (2018), the author writes from the perspective of the witch Circe, once again a Homeric character. However, it is Miller’s detailed recreation of Circe, a female character, and her struggles with life and love that resonate with the audience and make the novel a book to remember.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8wd9nT1/

This is an example of a #BookTok video that is reviewing Miller’s Circe.

Although retellings of classic myths might seem redundant, more and more readers are picking them up from the shelves. This is due to the remarkable recreated characters with the ability to connect with modern readers. The next time you are at a bookstore, look for one of these retellings and prepare to engage with a classic myth in a new way.