‘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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i really enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it
Tragic historical story holds the readers attention.
Historical to the Nth degree. Anyone traveling to Israel and visiting Masada must read this book. The remains of the dove “houses” and the entire community of Masada are awe-inspiring.
Not knowing a lot about the siege of Masada, I found this book captivating! The story is told from the viewpoint of each of four women and deals with life, death, love, sacrifice, hate, and life again. It is very well researched and I found the language usage in it fascinating. Each woman is immensely knowable since the characterizations are …
Loved it. Highly recommending to all my friends.
I loved this book. It will take you to another time and place.
The Dovekeepers is a fine work of historic fiction by Alice Hoffman. The research shows in the attention to detail, and ancient Hebrew customs and beliefs popped off the page. The stories of dovekeepers during the siege of Masada around 70 CE intertwine to present a gripping, heart-rending, and unforgettable novel.
Though I’ve always been a Hoffman fan, but I didn’t read The Dovekeepers in 2011, when it first came out. Based on the reviews at the time, I feared it would be too serious, too Biblical, too long. Then, last December, my family spent a week in Israel, and after visiting Masada, around which this story revolves, I felt impelled to read …
I learned so much and just loved this book. One of my favorite all time reads, it made me look up tons of factoids on the topic and sent me on a google rabbit hole. Well written and uniquely different from other Hoffman works. She is my favorite author and this was one of her best if not the best.
Don’t remeber
One of the books that I will always remember. Love, loss, struggle, testing of the human spirit, and the things we humans do to each other…
This book is one of the best stories of the ancient Jews’ struggle for independence from one of their many conquerors I have ever read. The sheer courage and incredible faith of these men and women is a lasting inspiration.
Alice Hoffman delivers a remarkable piece of historical fiction, centered around the Biblical story of Masada, where 900 Jews sacrificed themselves in 70 AD, rather than be murdered, captured, or enslaved by the Roman army. It’s a story full of ancient superstitions, human frailties, and the mysteries that inspire faith.
Hoffman builds this …
One of my all-time favorite books.
The subject matter was interesting, but it was too long.
A tragic Historical novel from the perspective of 4 everyday women who care for the doves in Masada. No happy endings here… but captivating.
Inspired by a famous historical event wherein nearly 1,000 Jews hid from the Roman armies bent on destroying Jerusalem, this book relates the lives of four fictional women who came to live among the settlement. Located on a massive plateau, the site of Masada provided protection for these pitiful souls who scrabbled out an existence.
Four Jewish …
A great story.
I love reading Alice Hoffmans books, but this one was an absolute delight to read.
I loved this book because it took me to a place and world that is so far removed from everything I know. This is a tale of beautiful brave women that live in an ancient world, where to be a woman was to be a second class citizen. Women were basically chattel. We meet each of the characters separately and are given their backstory and tragedy. Once …