World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Alice Hoffman

アリス・ホフマン

Arisu Hofuman

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1952-03-16 （New York City, New York, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Religion
Judaism
Residence History
Long Island, New York → Boston, Massachusetts

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Young adult writer, Children's writer
Active Years
1977-2025

Education

Valley Stream North High School
Period: 〜1969
Year of Graduation: 1969
Country: United States
Adelphi University
Degree: BA
Period: 1969–1973
Year of Graduation: 1973
Country: United States
Bachelor of Arts
Stanford University
Creative Writing Program / Creative Writing
Degree: MA
Period: 1973–1974
Year of Graduation: 1974
Country: United States
Mirrielees Fellow at the Creative Writing Program, earned MA

Awards

New Jersey Notable Book Award
2005
Work: The Ice Queen
Organization: New Jersey Center for the Book
Result: 受賞
Hammett Prize
Work: Turtle Moon
Organization: International Association of Crime Writers (North American branch)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

O. Henry Award 1 appearances
  1. Edition 103 (2025) Winner
    Work: City Girl

    "City Girl" is a short story selected for the O. Henry Prize 2025 anthology. In a compact sequence of scenes, it captures shifts in relationships and emotional tension.

    A sharp short story included in the O. Henry Prize 2025 anthology.

    short storyrelationshipsemotional tension

Works

Major Works

Practical Magic

1995 Magic realism, Fantasy

A story about a family touched by magic, exploring sisterhood, love, curses and redemption.

FamilyMagic within everyday lifeFemale bonds
Adaptations
  • [Film] Practical Magic / Griffin Dunne (1998)

The Dovekeepers

2011 Historical fiction

An ensemble historical novel set during the siege of Masada, told from the perspectives of several women.

HistorySurvivalWomen's perspectives
Adaptations
  • [Television / Miniseries] The Dovekeepers (2014)

The World That We Knew

2019 Historical fiction (World War II)

A novel inspired by the stories of hidden Jewish children during World War II, exploring survival and compassion.

War and memoryHidden childrenCompassion and humanity

The Rules of Magic

2017 Magic realism

A prequel to Practical Magic exploring the Owens family's origins and fate.

Family historyFate and choiceMagic

Bibliography

  • Property Of (1977)
  • The Drowning Season (1979)
  • Practical Magic (1995)
  • The Dovekeepers (2011)
  • The World That We Knew (2019)
  • Magic Lessons (2020)
  • The Book of Magic (2021)
  • The Invisible Hour (2023)
  • When We Flew Away (2024)

Adaptations

  • Practical Magic (film, 1998)
  • Independence Day (1983) - screenplay
  • Aquamarine (2006) - based on novel

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Poetic, lyrical prose incorporating magic realismBlends the everyday with the magical in a naturalistic way
Recurring Motifs
Magic interwoven with the mundaneFamily and generational tiesFemale strength and vulnerability

Health

  • Breast cancer
    After treatment, she helped establish the Hoffman Breast Center at Mount Auburn Hospital and contributed to cancer care support.

Legacy

Alice Hoffman is highly regarded in contemporary American literature for blending magic realism with women's stories. Many of her works have been adapted, and she has a wide readership across young adult and adult fiction.

Museums

  • Adelphi University Archives Garden City, New York Opened in 2015

Archives

  • Adelphi University (literary papers donated)

In Popular Culture

  • Practical Magic (1998 film)

Trivia

  • Donated her literary archives to Adelphi University (2015).
  • 'Practical Magic' was adapted into a film in 1998.
  • Worked as a writer on the 1983 film 'Independence Day'.