The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

I recall a TV miniseries made in the early 1980s about the Roman Empire’s siege of Masada in 73AD, so when I read a review of Hoffman’s The Dovekeepers, my interest was piqued. The TV miniseries featured a number of well-known actors and centred very much on the two main protagonists, Eleazar Ben Ya’ir, leader of the Jewish Zealots at Masada, a seemingly-impregnable fortress overlooking the Dead Sea; and Flavius Silva, the Roman general sent to crush the rebellion. The siege ended with the Roman Army entering the fortress, only to discover that the nine hundred living there had taken their own lives, rather than submit to torture and slavery under Roman rule. Two women and five children survived.

The only account from the time of the siege and fall of Masada was recorded by a Roman historian.

In contrast to the noble machismo of the TV series, the Dovekeepers is a fictionalised account of the siege from the perspective of four women, Yael, Revka, Aziza and Shirah, whose lives intersect as they work in the dovecotes. An accomplished writer, Hoffman uses vivid imagery, offering fresh insight into the religious tradition and social order of the time, against the background of impending tragedy. The story is alive with the contrast between the seen and the unseen; the power of silence and magic, a theme common in Hoffman’s writing. It is a fascinating, masterful story, thoroughly recommended.  Reviewed by Flappy Jandals

Author's website: http://alicehoffman.com

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The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman, 2011