In the Middle of So Much Fire

A look at the disasters of war through the love story of Achilles and Patroclus.

In En mitad de tanto fuego (In the Middle of So Much Fire) , playwright Alberto Conejero , winner of the 2019 National Prize for Dramatic Literature, reinterprets one of the most universal tales of classical mythology: the story of Achilles and Patroclus. Based on Book XVI of Homer's Iliad , Conejero gives voice to a secondary character in the epic tale, transforming him into the protagonist of an intimate, passionate, and deeply human work.

Love and War: An Anti-War Perspective

This is not the Trojan War as we know it. It is a poetic exploration of the boundaries between love and death, told through the lens of flesh and desire. Patroclus emerges here as much more than "the devoted companion" or "the most beloved among soldiers." He is an insatiable lover, a deeply human being who seeks to break free from euphemisms to reclaim his free and dissident desire.

Conejero traces an anti-war statement that transcends eras and borders, weaving together the voices of figures such as Sappho , Pedro Lemebel , Anne Carson , and Luis Cernuda , among others. Through its quotations and references, the text becomes an oratorio for the victims of war, exploring concepts such as power, passion, violence, and homeland.

Art as Resistance

In the Middle of So Much Fire is more than a literary work: it's an act of resistance. Conejero not only captures the love between Achilles and Patroclus as a hymn to desire, but also imagines a different future, where art and dissent are refuges from the destructive power of war.

A must-read for those seeking to rethink the classics from a contemporary and emotional perspective. A celebration of love, desire, and resilience in the face of the devastating fires of war.

About the author:

Alberto Conejero (Vilches, 1978) is a poet, playwright, stage director, and teacher. He holds a degree in Stage Direction and Dramaturgy from the Royal School of Dramatic Arts (RESAD) and a PhD in Classical Philology from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). His dramatic productions include Lametría del Trigo (National Prize for Dramatic Literature 2019), Los días de la nieve (Lorca Prize for Theatrical Authorship 2019), La piedra oscura (Max Prize for Best Theatrical Author 2016, Ceres Prize for Best Author 2015, among other awards), Ushuaia (Ricardo López de Aranda Prize 2013), Cliff (acantilado) (distinguished at the IV LAM Competition 2010), Húngaros (National University Theatre Prize 2000), Todas las noches de un día (winner of the III AAT Theatre Text Competition), and Fiebre (second prize for the National Short Theatre Prize 1999). His work has been translated into English, French, Italian, Greek, Polish, Romanian, Hungarian and Portuguese. Since January 2020, he has been directing the Madrid Autumn Festival.

Book details:

• Written by : Alberto Conejero
• Publisher : Two Mustaches
• Cover design : Raúl Lázaro
• Format : Paperback with flaps (14 x 21 cm)
• Number of pages : 68
• ISBN : 978-84-126535-9-5