“The Dovekeepers” by Alice Hoffman

This excellent novel tells the story of women of Masada, a Jewish desert fortress which was besieged by the Romans in 70AD.  Josephus tells us that two women and five children survived the siege, and Alice Hoffman has brought their stories to life, based on archeological remains, and including a touch of magic.  The scene is set with a gruelling journey through the desert, and an understanding of the Jewish world-to-come. 

While I’d heard a little of Masada, I didn’t know of its history as one of Herod’s palaces, and reading this book has inspired me to watch the dvd of the mini-series “Masada”, starring Peter O’Toole.  Stephen, as a student of Roman history, conveniently has this in his collection.  I’m interested to see how the mini-series ties in with Hoffman’s book.

“These women tended to the doves,
and practised magic for their loves.”