Nurse Anna's War

by Mary Jane Staples

Brussels, 1915. It is a frosty April evening in occupied Belgium when a beautiful young woman finds herself on the run from the enemy. Also being pursued is Ned Scott, a British army major who has been badly injured. The pair find themselves at a hospital run by the famous Edith Cavell, who agrees to treat the major while offering them both refuge and a false identity - she names the young girl Anna.

However it seems no one is safe, and as details of Anna's true identity emerge, the enemy's net tightens. Meanwhile, the major is torn between his desire to stand by brave Edith and the knowledge that he must escape.

Closely watched wherever they go, is there anyone these three people can trust? And will love have the power to overcome the horrors of war?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, War, Historical, World War I

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 1984

About the author

Mary Jane Staples is a pseudonym used by British author Reginald Thomas Staples (1911-2005). He is also published under the name Robert Tyler Stevens, R.T. Stevens, and James Sinclair.

Reviews

[Dorcas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book can also be found under the title "Nurse Anna's War" by Mary Jane Staples.

Louise and Ned met in a ditch, both running from the Germans in Belgium WW1. Ned has a seriously broken arm and they help eachother reach a place of safety: the clinique of nurse Edith Cavell.

Cavell is a kind of Florence Nightingale who not only nurses all wounded, but also heads an "underground railroad " to get Allied soldiers out of the country.

I felt that the book dwelt too heavily on Edith and it became more a story about Edith Cavell than our h/ h. Its not the best idea for a story to have two heroines especially one as superhuman as Cavell. Where does that leave our relatively normal, bright Louise but as an afterthought?

The last two chapters really pick up and I wish we could have had more chapters on their final escape.
The ending is satisfying in the sense of closure but is far too short. It feels rushed, which is disappointing. Also, the humor and witty banter that I love so much in R.T.Stevens writing is profoundly lacking in this one. Still, I give it a solid
3 1/2 Stars

CONTENT :

SEX : None (although the reader is privy to the heroine's thoughts at one point and they're rather, well, she could have kept them to herself.)

VIOLENCE : A few knockouts, nothing major

PROFANITY : Mild cussing

MY RATING : PG-13

*if you're wondering where the 'Anna' comes from in the alternate title it is Louise's assumed name under the tutelage of Nurse Cavell.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been the book that I have really needed to read . I have given it five stars because it’s not only about a heroine to me In that it tells about Edith Cavell working in Belgium during World War II as a matron of a nurse in school, but also because he is hoping to book that has helped me gripped with the escapades of Louise Victoria and Major Ned.
Does this book has been heartbreaking in learning of the arrest and subsequent execution of Edith Cavell I feel that I have witnessed her bravery and devotion to her work as a nurse And also in her loyalty as a British woman.
I really like Louise and Ned and the slow burning relationship that they have and though it’s very lighthearted in the way it’s been written, it has brought lightness to a dark subject of the World War II invasion Of Belgium.

[Tweety · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, what was Robert Tyler Stevens thinking when he wrote this? It seems to me that he wanted to write about Edith Cavell the Nurse, more than about his usual H/h theme.

But, unfortunately he gave us two heroines, with only one hero and he let the second heroine dwarf the main girl, Louise Victoria. Nurse Cavell was just so much a hero, that Louise was much too easily forgotten. Frankly, I preferred Louise to our heroic Nurse Cavell. Major Ned Scott is or hero, a nice, rugged man who is in his own words a slightly ungentlemanly solider. But even he, seems not so heroic in comparisons to the magnificent Miss Cavell. He, like everyone else becomes deeply devoted to Nurse Cavell, and fails to see poor Louise.

The beginning and ending of this book was fabulous; but boy, did that middle drag! In the beginning we have Scott and Louise running for their lives, and then the end up with Nurse Cavell, and we are in dead water when it comes to our H/h. Now the story is all about Madame Cavell, and all of her endeavors. until the last fourth of the book when things heat up too much for Scott and Louise, and then we are back o the excitement of fleeing.

In all honesty, if the parts of Cavell had been cut down, and more about the plight of our H/h added, this book would have been wonderful. But, it is what it is. For all that, it was good and I liked the ending, even if not everything wasn't how I had hoped.

Would I reread this book? No. I would reread other books by Robert Tyler Stevens/Mary Jane Staples, but this isn't one of them.

PG-13 We have very mild swearing, a fair bit of violence and blood, as well as the questionable privilege of getting the hear the heroine's thoughts on one occasion, which were on the vulgar side.

[Ayny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Even though it is based on fact - had the author not included the short bio of Edith Cavell and her death, it would have been more suspenseful.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brussels 1915, WWI and Edith Cavell is in charge of a small hospital and nursing school in a small town near Brussels. The Nazis are all around but her hospital is generally not disturbed. What they don't know is Edith Cavell harbors injured ally soldiers within the hospital walls until they are well enough to be guided back to Britain or France.

Louise Victoria is a 17 year old girl who is a countess. Her parents are dead and she has been living with her aunt, her father's sister. When she comes across an injured soldier, she helps him but finally admits what she has done to her aunt. The aunt is horrified and threatens to go to the police. The soldier escapes and Louise runs for her life. With the Nazis hot on her trail, she jumps into a ditch and hides with an injured soldier, Major Ned Scott. They escape and finally find their way to Edith Cavell's hospital. Edith persuades Louise to begin nurses training and renames her Anna.

A lot of the book is about Edith Cavell and her dedication to the cause, she faces the Nazis with calmness and serenity. Will Louise Victoria and Ned escape? Have to read the book to find out.

An easy read but quite interesting.

[Bt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best part of this book was reading about Edith Cavell, a real woman who did some amazing work in World War I. I found her story fascinating and inspiring. Most of the other characters in this book are fictional, and they can't hold much of a candle to Edith. The romance the author adds in wasn't bad but didn't really grab me. At the very beginning of the book it did, but I steadily lost interest. And Victoria Louise didn't do much for me as a character. The book's ending was weird too. I know Edith and her helpers had to die to be true to real life. But then Ned and Victoria wake up full of bullets, and oh yeah by the way Ned's arm got amputated but it's fine, the end. It was kind of abrupt. Also I wanted to know more about that lady who was helping them and waiting for a British soldier to come back for his pipe. Maybe the author wrote another book about that? As other reviewers have commented, it was odd the way in which the author was trying to tell Edith's story, but then also put these other fictional characters' story in. It didn't quite fit together right.

[Wendy Marchment · Rating 3 out of 5]

The audiobook has some irritating pseudo accents of various characters. It was an interesting and generally enjoyable read, but became overly soppy and not very believable to do with Anna's escapades near the end. Edith Cavell was a real person and is one of the main characters and the most interesting for me. Near the end the book relates facts as to her fate. Would have been 4 stars if the ending had come together better.

[Terena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fictional story of two people escaping the Germans in occupied Belgium during WW1, and finding themselves at Edith Cavell's refuge/ hospital. I loved the story although it did seem to have a rushed ending.

[Lora Starkings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst I was very interested in Ediths story from ww1, I found parts of the novel to be slow going at times and I was surprised at the title, when really it is about Edith as much as nurse Anna!

[Rhona Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read.

I read this sometime ago so yes it was engaging. A clean romance. Although set during the war, has humour as well.

[Tina Milledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it very much. Wasn't aware until near the end that it was based around fact.

[Madzikanga · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest books I have ever read. A story of war, love, courage, determination, tenacity and faith. As I read the book, the scenes came to life and the unfolding plots were but exhilaring. I just could not put the book down once I started to read it. I picked the book in a library from a chair-I am so grateful for the reader who left the book there.
A book for every teenager, adolescent, soldier, scholar and anyone determined to succeed!

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this stand alone novel by Mary Jane staples. I loved the story of Anna and her war experiences as a nurse serving under Edith Cavell. The tension of the novel was kept throughout despite the knowledge of Edith Cavell's capture and eventual execution by the Germans during WW1.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Mary Jane Staples books especially the Adams Family saga, but I haven't read one of her books in a while, wasn't disappointed

enjoyable read transporting you back to 1914 with a good amount of suspense and romance

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I already knew a little about Edith Cavell and it was lovely to see her story told in this novel.
This book continues my fascination with books about strong women in the wars and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read about a true heroine.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of how strong people were in the war, a very emotional journey of one young girl determined to help her country

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible story of heroism and bravery during WW1 in Belgium.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it's not hidimg Jewish people and WWI but same idea.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

a sensitively written novel centering around the secret war work and consequences of nurse Edith Cavell

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.