Description
In the Midst of So Much Fire
Book Summary
Alberto Conejero, winner of the National Dramatic Literature Award, offers an intimate and anti-war look at the Trojan War through the love story between Achilles and Patroclus. Starting from Book XVI of the Iliad, the play gives a voice to Patroclus, the secondary character who was the "most beloved" by Achilles. This theatrical text weaves together eras and literary references from Sappho, Cernuda, or Anne Carson to reflect on the powerlessness of art in the face of war and the strength of love amidst destruction.
What is it about?
The play is set at the heart of the Homeric poem, but shifts the focus from the hero Achilles to Patroclus, his companion and lover. The Trojan War is not narrated as an epic episode, but rather as a stage where flesh, death, and love coincide. The text, written to be performed, constructs a poetic monologue that explores Patroclus's subjectivity, his bond with Achilles, and the fragility of life on the battlefield. Through quotes and echoes of Sappho, Pedro Lemebel, Anne Carson, and Luis Cernuda, Conejero weaves a plea against violence and a meditation on how art attempts, without fully succeeding, to make sense of barbarism.
Main themes
- Love and desire in times of war, with a focus on the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus.
- War as a destructive and dehumanizing experience, addressed from an anti-war perspective.
- Memory and the subjectivity of the secondary character, giving voice to Patroclus as the narrator of his own story.
- The powerlessness of art and literature in the face of violence and death.
- The rewriting of classical myth from a contemporary and queer perspective.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in contemporary theater, the revision of Greco-Latin classics from an LGBTQ+ and anti-war perspective, and for those seeking a poetic and intimate work that reflects on love and war. It is also suitable for students of dramatic literature and the general public who appreciate short but meaning-dense texts.
What this book offers
- A renewed vision of the Iliad centered on the figure of Patroclus, far from traditional epic.
- A theatrical text of high literary quality, awarded the National Dramatic Literature Award.
- A profound reflection on the relationship between love, death, and war, with echoes of classical and contemporary authors.
- A brief but intense read, ideal for a concentrated and emotional literary experience.
Technical specifications
- Author: Alberto Conejero
- Publisher: Dos Bigotes
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: Plays, theatrical texts
- Collection: Dos Bigotes
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: October 2023
- Number of pages: 68
- Weight: 150 g
Editorial review
This work by Alberto Conejero stands out for its ability to condense a lyrical and powerful reflection on war and love into just 68 pages. Its focus on Patroclus, a traditionally secondary character, brings a fresh and necessary perspective to the Trojan myth, while the references to authors like Sappho or Cernuda enrich the text without overwhelming the reader. It is a recommended read for those looking for quality contemporary theater with a clear ethical and aesthetic commitment.