Madeline Miller's debut novel "The Song of Achilles" won the prestigious Orange Prize for Fiction. Miller, a U.S. author was honored in London for the book which is a Homeric story with a unique spin. Befitting the prize, Madeline received her award in an orange, paisley patterned dress (but the color choice may only be apt for this year as the name will likely change--see below).

Reuters reports that Miller's book is about "Patroclus, an awkward young prince in exile whose friendship with ancient Greek hero Achilles grows into something far deeper. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little realizing what awaits."

The chair of the Orange Prize panel said that "Homer would have been proud" of Miller. The author will get a $47,000 reward check for her win. Some of the writers that Miller beat out for the prize include Ann Patchett, Georgina Harding and Esi Edugyan.

Sadly, the Orange Prize, which has had great prominence in the literary world since it was established in 1996 to honor women fiction writers from around the world will lose its title sponsor.  Orange, a telecommunications company, has said that it will discontinue its sponsorship after 2012.  The award is searching for a new sponsor to cover all its expenses as Orange had. Something tells us, it won't be long before it gets another benefactor. But what will they name the prize?