Over five years in the writing, the dovekeepers is alice hoffmans most ambitious. Alice hoffman, american novelist whose books about women in search of their identities mix realism and the supernatural. The novel dramatizes the siege of masada 7374 ce by troops of the roman. Notes from the author to the bookclub a letter from alice hoffman once in a lifetime a book may come to a writer as an unexpected gift.
The dovekeepers by alice hoffman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The dovekeepers is alice hoffmans most ambitious and mesmerizing novel. Inspired by the siege of masada, in which 900 jews took refuge from roman armies, the dovekeepers follows four determined women as they pursue their fates. An ambitious and mesmerizing novel from the bestselling author of rules of magic.
In the interviews had with alice hoffman, in late june and early july, the author of 30 fictional books told me, i always feel that fiction is the truth and nonfiction is a lie. Oct 04, 2011 an ambitious and mesmerizing novel from the bestselling author of rules of magic. It features the siege of masada by troops of the roman empire towards the end of the first jewishroman war. Free download or read online the dovekeepers pdf epub book. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book. The book covers a period of four years as the romans waged war against the jewish stronghold of masada, claimed by a group 900 rebels and their families. Alice hoffman, the author of more than 20 novels, has established a reputation for stories that blend the mundane with the miraculous. The program premiered in the united states on march 31, 2015 on cbs. The novel is alice hoffman s latest book, the dovekeepers, which attempts to retell the story of the jewish resistance during the roman siege of masada in the first century. Once in a lifetime a book may come to a writer as an unexpected gift. But most of all, this novel is one that will never be forgotten by a reader. The first edition of the novel was published in october 4th 2011, and was written by alice hoffman. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on masada, a mountain in the. The novel is much too long and, for most of its 500 pages, its four protagonists suffer relentlessly.
The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are aziza, yael. The dovekeepers is a novel set during and after the fall of jerusalem 70 c. Alice hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including the world that we knew, the rules of magic, the marriage of opposites, practical magic, the red garden, the oprahs book club selection here on earth, the museum of extraordinary things. The novel is much too long and, for most of its 500. The dovekeepers is strikinghoffman grounds her expansive, intricately woven, and deepest new novel in biblical history, with a devotion and seriousness of purpose entertainment weekly.
The dovekeepers is the story of four remarkable women who come to masada, the judean desert where 900 jews held out for many months against roman armies in 70 ce. Alice hoffman born march 16, 1952 is an american novelist and youngadult and childrens writer, best known for her 1995 novel practical magic, which was adapted for a 1998 film of the same name. Sep 28, 2011 the women in the dovekeepers are physically and spiritually strong, they have elemental female desires when it comes to love, sex, and children, and many of them possess magical powers. Oct 23, 2011 the novel is alice hoffmans latest book, the dovekeepers, which attempts to retell the story of the jewish resistance during the roman siege of masada in the first century. Alice hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including the world that we knew, the rules of magic, the marriage of opposites, practical magic, the red garden, the oprahs book club selection here on earth, the museum of extraordinary things, and the dovekeepers. This reading group guide for the dovekeepers includes discussion questions and a letter from author, alice hoffman. It was a gift from my greatgreat grandmothers, the women of ancient israel who first spoke to me when i visited the mountain fortress of masada. Alice hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including the world that we knew, practical magic, the rules of magic, the oprahs book club selection here on earth,the red garden, the dovekeepers,the museum of extraordinary things, the marriage of opposites, and faithful.
A major contribution to twentyfirstcentury 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. The dovekeepers ebook by alice hoffman official publisher. This is a feminist tale, a story of strong, intelligent women wedded to destiny by love and sacrifice. In 70 ce, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on a mountain in the judean, desert, masada. Oct 06, 2011 the dovekeepers is the story of four remarkable women who come to masada, the judean desert where 900 jews held out for many months against roman armies in 70 ce. The difficulty with the dovekeepers is that these moments of hope are too few and far between. Alice hoffman, author of the dovekeepers, answers ten terrifying.
The dovekeepers alice hoffman, 2011 scribner 512 pp. Hoffman grounds her expansive, intricately woven, and deepest new novel in biblical history, with a devotion and seriousness of purpose entertainment weekly. Put the dovekeepers at the pinnacle of hoffmans extraordinary body of work. I am still reeling from the dovekeepers from the history alice hoffman illuminates, from the language she uses to bring these women to life. Alice hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including the world that we knew, practical magic, the rules of magic, the oprahs book club selection here on earth,the red garden, the dovekeepers,the museum of extraordinary things, the marriage of. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 504 pages and is available in hardcover format. It was a gift from my greatgreat grandmothers, the women of an. Bestselling author alice hoffmans works have been named notable books of the year by several publications. The dovekeepers book by alice hoffman official publisher. The dovekeepers by alice hoffman book club discussion. The only account we have of the actual event is the jewish war, written around that time by flavius josephus, a jewish historian who became. Over five years in the writing, the dovekeepers is alice hoffman. Based on this tragic event, alice hoffman weaves a.
Wally lamb, author of the hour i first believed i am still reeling from the dovekeepersfrom the history alice hoffman illuminates, from the language she uses to bring these women to life. Told in four parts, the first comes from yael, daughter of yosef bar elhanan, a sicarii zealot assassin, rejected by her father because of her. The dovekeeper by alice hoffman reading guidebook club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. The dovekeepers by alice hoffman overdrive rakuten. On the back cover, a blurb from a famous, widely respected author describing the novel as a major. The dovekeepers audiobook by alice hoffman, heather lind. The dovekeepers is alice hoffman s most ambitious and mesmerizing novel. According to the ancient historian josephus, two women and five children survived. About the author alice hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including the world that we knew, practical magic, the rules of magic, the oprahs book club selection here on earth, the red garden, the dovekeepers, the museum of extraordinary things, the marriage of opposites, and faithful. The novel is alice hoffmans latest book, the dovekeepers, which attempts to retell the story of the jewish resistance during the roman siege of masada in the first century. The dovekeepers by alice hoffman fantastic fiction. Nov 04, 2011 the difficulty with the dovekeepers is that these moments of hope are too few and far between.
It was a gift from my greatgreat grandmothers, the women of an ancient israel who first spoke to me when i visited the mountain fortress of masada. 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. The beating heart of the story is one that pulses through the authors body of. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on masada, a mountain in. This novel is a testament to the human spirit and to love rising from the ashes of war. Oct, 2011 the spellbinding people, 4 stars, new york times bestseller from the author of the dovekeepers. The spellbinding people, 4 stars, new york times bestseller from the author of the dovekeepers. The dovekeepers is a twopart television adaptation based on the book of the same name by alice hoffman from executive producers roma downey and mark burnett. The dovekeepers is a 2011 historical novel by american writer alice hoffman. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on masada, a mountain in the judean desert. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on masada, a mountain. The dovekeepers an ambitious and mesmerizing novel from the bestselling author of rules of magic. Her notable novels included practical magic 1995, the dovekeepers 2011, and the world that we knew 2019.
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