The Dovekeepers: A Novel by Alice Hoffman -Paperback
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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.
*The Dovekeepers* by Alice Hoffman is a deeply ambitious and captivating novel, intricately weaving together historical and biblical elements. Set in ancient Judea during the Roman siege of Masada, the story follows four women whose lives intersect at the desert fortress. Hoffman's narrative is marked by emotional depth and meticulous research, capturing the harsh realities of the time while exploring themes of survival, faith, and sacrifice. The novel is praised for its striking prose and the seriousness with which Hoffman approaches her subject matter, blending myth, history, and personal stories into a powerful and immersive reading experience. Welibooks.com
