The tragedy at Masada has echoed down the ages, subjected to various political and inspirational uses, since it was first described by Josephus, the only contemporary source. What’s more, as Anita Diamant showed so popularly with “ The Red Tent,” the world of ancient Judaism provides fertile ground for exploring the challenges of women’s lives, and, fortunately, this time Hoffman treats her favorite issues without throwing up much of the fairy dust that too often clogs her work. “ The Dovekeepers” is an enormously ambitious, multi-part story, richly decorated with the details of life 2,000 years ago. Sometimes, the results are practically magic sometimes, they’re practically laughable.īut nothing she’s written would prepare you for the gravitas of her new book, an immersive historical novel about Masada during the Roman siege in the 1st century. A trip through her enormous body of work - for adults and young people - is a jarring ride, from the loveliness of “ Illumination Night” to the schlockiness of “ The River King.” Hang on tight and you’ll swerve from the quiet power of her short stories in “ Local Girls” to the groaning hokiness of “ The Ice Queen.” In bestseller after bestseller, she explores women’s subjects and feminist themes, especially ancient and modern expressions of witchcraft. Alice Hoffman may be the most uneven writer in America.
0 kommentar(er)
