The Dovekeepers: A Novel

Alice Hoffman

Oct 2011 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

An ambitious and mesmerizing novel from the bestselling author of Rules of Magic. The Dovekeepers is “striking….Hoffman grounds her expansive, intricately woven, and deepest new novel in biblical history, with a devotion and seriousness of purpose” (Entertainment Weekly).

Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on Masada, a mountain in the Judean desert. According to the ancient historian Josephus, two women and five children survived. Based on this tragic and iconic event, Hoffman’s novel is a spellbinding tale of four extraordinarily bold, resourceful, and sensuous women, each of whom has come to Masada by a different path. Yael’s mother died in childbirth, and her father, an expert assassin, never forgave her for that death. Revka, a village baker’s wife, watched the murder of her daughter by Roman soldiers; she brings to Masada her young grandsons, rendered mute by what they have witnessed. Aziza is a warrior’s daughter, raised as a boy, a fearless rider and expert marksman who finds passion with a fellow soldier. Shirah, born in Alexandria, is wise in the ways of ancient magic and medicine, a woman with uncanny insight and power.

The lives of these four complex and fiercely independent women intersect in the desperate days of the siege. All are dovekeepers, and all are also keeping secrets—about who they are, where they come from, who fathered them, and whom they love.

Ratings and reviews

If you like your Historical fiction character rich, pulled from the pages of history, well researched, unforgettable and thought-provoking, you do not want to miss this latest book by Alice Hoffman. It’s an inspirational and riveting story about four remarkable women who lived during the siege and massacre of Masada in 70C.E. Based on the historian Josephus’s account, it vividly portrays the brutality of the Romans and the fragility of life. Hoffman’s descriptions of the day-to-day life of this period are noteworthy and layered with believable events and character interactions. The primary perspective is from the female point of view and shows their fear, resilience, strength and determination as they navigate a life rife with danger. Highly recommend.

I could barely put this book down. The author weaves a story of facts into a nonfiction book of 4 amazing women who went through a great deal of pain and through their silence, showed how strong they really were and what it was like to live in those incredibly hard times, not only as Jew but as a female to. As I, myself, am Jewish, I felt like I was reading a piece of my own history and could imagine my female ancestors and what they went through. Beautifully written!

Could not let go of the feelings of being there in the flesh....the movie should had been the cover picture of her the woman that looked like my daughter BROOKE. MUST read to get what i mean. Looked forward to the story unfolding at the end of my boring day. Love it i sent to my daughter. The dvd i haven't seen although i held back for the same woman is not the cover picture. Wish it would magically appear so i can relive it again. bebe brown

About the author

Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The Book of Magic, Magic Lessons, The World That We Knew, Practical Magic, The Rules of Magic (a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick), the Oprah’s Book Club Selection Here on Earth, The Red Garden, The Dovekeepers, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, The Marriage of Opposites, and Faithful. She lives near Boston.