‘A major contribution to twenty-first-century literature’ Toni Morrison, Nobel Laureate and author of Beloved In the year 70 CE, nine hundred Jews held out for months against the Roman army in ancient Israel. Only two women and five children survived. Based on this tragic event, Alice Hoffman weaves a spellbinding story about the lives of four bold and remarkable women during desperate days … remarkable women during desperate days of the siege of Masada, when supplies are dwindling and the Romans are drawing near.
Yael is the assassin’s daughter, Revka’s life has been torn apart by the Romans, Aziza has been raised as a warrior and Shirah is wise in the ways of ancient magic. All are dovekeepers, and all are keepers of secrets – about who they are, where they come from, who fathered them, and whom they love.
The Dovekeepers is Alice Hoffman’s masterpiece.
Praise for The Dovekeepers
‘Hoffman is a writer of great perception and she captures with precision the complexity of the relationships between the women, their fear and guilt, their courage, their hunger for consolation and companionship’ Guardian
‘Fascinating . . . Hoffman’s grasp of her subject compels respect’ Helen Dunmore, The Times
‘A book as monumental as its subject, magical, moving, quite beautifully written and probably Hoffman’s best. A genuine masterpiece’ Daily Mail
‘I would share the incredible creative power and intense imagination of Alice Hoffman, whose novel The Dovekeepersshows just how far and deep historical fiction can go’ Observer, ‘What Will Be Under Your Tree This Christmas’
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Great story about the hardships of the desert people during Roman times. Shows how strong the women in the tribes can be. Tragic story of survival of religious groups. Good story.
Alice Hoffman has has set this tragic story at a time and place in history not often written about in fiction. This book made me reflect on the individuals who live with religious persecution everyday; their lives and personal stories.
Gripping page-turner. Really enjoyed the characters. Highly recommend.
This is one of my all time favorite books. The characters are extremely well developed and the setting/turn of events is unprecedented. I could not put it down.
I really liked this book. The author has such a marvelous way with words, paints pictures that got right to you. The story of four different women itself is gut-wrenching but heart-warming all at the same time. I can’t really put it in any genre, maybe historical fiction fits, but it is just good fiction.
This was my favorite Alice Hoffman book yet (and I love them all). There is so much history woven in, and the women characters are so strong. Incredibly well crafted, I didn’t want this story to end.
I have read other books by Alice Hoffman and enjoyed them but this one was really the best of them all. It tells the story of Masada thru the eyes of some of the women as they journeyed and ended up living there until the siege by the Romans. They each came from different walks of life with various experiences that become intertwined. Hoffman …
I liked this book . It keep me reading late into the night.
Not much. As an Alice Hoffman book it was unexpected and felt weighty and I frequently felt I was just plodding along. Did not really care for it even though I know people did
The best EVER!
Alice Hoffman never fails. The Dove Keepers is one of her best!
I really enjoyed the first half of the book, but i just couldn’t get into the second half. I gave it two tries, but I have so many other books on my list to read that I didn’t have any qualms about abandoning this one halfway through. So this was a donate to the library.
This is a wonderful historical fiction about three very strong women in a time when women were not valued. I have read it twice.
Loved it!
One of the best novels I’ve read.
Hauntingly beautiful. Hoffman’s best.