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The German Ward
The love story of the year: a breathtaking new novel from the author of global bestsellers The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho. A tale of love between enemies behind the lines of WW1 and the Australian artist who captures their secret.
This is a story about desire.
France, 1915. An English nurse and German doctor fall in love. He is a prisoner of war; she has never cared for rules. Their love is visceral and urgent, forbidden and doomed, and it would have gone unrecorded if not for a series of drawings found more than a century later.
At first the drawings seem insignificant, but the woman who finds them glimpses moments of intimacy and can’t look away. The images become part of a puzzle she wants to solve: who were the lovers, what became of them, and what story of war was the artist trying to tell?
In this luminous tale of hope in the midst of darkness, Pip Williams expands the world of her bestselling novels, The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho. Sensual and sophisticated, The German Ward shows one of Australia’s most significant writers reaching the height of her skills.
This is a story about desire.
France, 1915. An English nurse and German doctor fall in love. He is a prisoner of war; she has never cared for rules. Their love is visceral and urgent, forbidden and doomed, and it would have gone unrecorded if not for a series of drawings found more than a century later.
At first the drawings seem insignificant, but the woman who finds them glimpses moments of intimacy and can’t look away. The images become part of a puzzle she wants to solve: who were the lovers, what became of them, and what story of war was the artist trying to tell?
In this luminous tale of hope in the midst of darkness, Pip Williams expands the world of her bestselling novels, The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho. Sensual and sophisticated, The German Ward shows one of Australia’s most significant writers reaching the height of her skills.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2026
About the author
Pip Williams
17 books2,530 followersPip was born in London, grew up in Sydney and now calls the Adelaide Hills home. She is co-author of the book Time Bomb: Work Rest and Play in Australia Today (New South Press, 2012) and in 2017 she wrote One Italian Summer, a memoir of her family’s travels in search of the good life, which was published with Affirm Press to wide acclaim. Pip has also published travel articles, book reviews, flash fiction and poetry.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The German Ward is a beautifully written novel from Pip Williams who blends history with imagination to weave a seductive, poignant tale exploring forbidden love, war, art, and the stories history fails to record.
Set largely in France during the First World War, the story follows Tilda Taylor, an English Red Cross volunteer working in the military hospitals of Étaples, and Hugo Hemming, a German doctor and prisoner of war. The German ward brings them together, and despite the obvious risks a powerful connection develops between them. Their story is intertwined with that of Australian artist Iso Rae, whose sketches capture the reality of life around the hospitals, and more than a century later, with Eva, an adjunct professor researching Rae, who senses a secret among the cache of Iso’s drawings and becomes determined to uncover it.
Readers may recognise Tilda from her appearance in The Bookbinder of Jericho. An ageing actress, dismissive of authority, independent, and unconventional, it’s a somewhat of a surprise to find her in Etaples as a volunteer nurse. There is evidence to suggest she hasn’t changed much but it’s also clear that she is a capable and dedicated nurse, and it’s a combination of these traits that results in her transfer to the German ward.
Williams’ rendering of the camp, particularly the hospital wards, and the exhaustion, fear and humanity of those working among the wounded is impactful. There is a real sense of how strange, even frightening, it must have been to care for men in the German ward who were technically the enemy, and there are several confronting scenes that underscores that. I love how Williams uses the setting to explore ideas about duty, compassion, loyalty, and prejudice.
The development of Tilda’s relationship with Hugo is tense and restrained, complicated by their circumstances. There is desire and tenderness, but also fear and an awareness that their situation is incredibly precarious. I actually felt the strain, and I wondered for a while if the draw for Tilda was in large part that sense of risk, but I was eventually disabused of that notion.
I liked how the present-day storyline gave a different perspective of Tilda and Hugo’s relationship, both through Iso’s sketches and Eva’s interpretation of them. Williams draws inspiration from the real Australian artist Iso Rae, of whom I’ve never heard, whose unofficial documentation of life around the British military hospitals at Étaples during WWI is held in part by the Australian War Memorial, to create her fictional counterpart, and I was delighted to be introduced to her.
Thoughtful, moving, and challenging, The German Ward is a captivating story. If you’ve enjoyed Pip Williams’ previous books you will no doubt love this too
Set largely in France during the First World War, the story follows Tilda Taylor, an English Red Cross volunteer working in the military hospitals of Étaples, and Hugo Hemming, a German doctor and prisoner of war. The German ward brings them together, and despite the obvious risks a powerful connection develops between them. Their story is intertwined with that of Australian artist Iso Rae, whose sketches capture the reality of life around the hospitals, and more than a century later, with Eva, an adjunct professor researching Rae, who senses a secret among the cache of Iso’s drawings and becomes determined to uncover it.
Readers may recognise Tilda from her appearance in The Bookbinder of Jericho. An ageing actress, dismissive of authority, independent, and unconventional, it’s a somewhat of a surprise to find her in Etaples as a volunteer nurse. There is evidence to suggest she hasn’t changed much but it’s also clear that she is a capable and dedicated nurse, and it’s a combination of these traits that results in her transfer to the German ward.
Williams’ rendering of the camp, particularly the hospital wards, and the exhaustion, fear and humanity of those working among the wounded is impactful. There is a real sense of how strange, even frightening, it must have been to care for men in the German ward who were technically the enemy, and there are several confronting scenes that underscores that. I love how Williams uses the setting to explore ideas about duty, compassion, loyalty, and prejudice.
The development of Tilda’s relationship with Hugo is tense and restrained, complicated by their circumstances. There is desire and tenderness, but also fear and an awareness that their situation is incredibly precarious. I actually felt the strain, and I wondered for a while if the draw for Tilda was in large part that sense of risk, but I was eventually disabused of that notion.
I liked how the present-day storyline gave a different perspective of Tilda and Hugo’s relationship, both through Iso’s sketches and Eva’s interpretation of them. Williams draws inspiration from the real Australian artist Iso Rae, of whom I’ve never heard, whose unofficial documentation of life around the British military hospitals at Étaples during WWI is held in part by the Australian War Memorial, to create her fictional counterpart, and I was delighted to be introduced to her.
Thoughtful, moving, and challenging, The German Ward is a captivating story. If you’ve enjoyed Pip Williams’ previous books you will no doubt love this too
May 15, 2026
A masterpiece!
Wow! This book is breathtaking. As someone who has adored Pip’s previous books, I can confidently say this is her best book yet. The story is intimate and immediate, intricate and raw, and beautifully observed, balancing both light and darkness with great skill and insight. This is truly one of Australia’s best writers reaching the heights of her talents. I can’t wait to see what Pip writes next. I will read all her books.
Wow! This book is breathtaking. As someone who has adored Pip’s previous books, I can confidently say this is her best book yet. The story is intimate and immediate, intricate and raw, and beautifully observed, balancing both light and darkness with great skill and insight. This is truly one of Australia’s best writers reaching the heights of her talents. I can’t wait to see what Pip writes next. I will read all her books.
September 30, 2026
I was already hit by med-school PTSD within the first few pages, given this was so cinematically written! I'm no romantic, but already started imagining Tilda as Kate Winslet or Rachel Weisz as the English nurse, and Sam Heughan or Rupert Friend as the Nazi doc. I find Eva especially relatable for her dogged dedication to find the truth, and now have a newfound interest in the real historical artist Isobel Rae whom I hadn't heard of, even as an Australian :o
September 12, 2026
I absolutely loved The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho was excited to read her latest offering . The German Ward is Pip’s best yet. Told over a dual timeline I found myself equally engaged with both women’s stories. With Eva in 2025, I enjoyed her discovery at the War Memorial and all the research she did. It felt like you were getting an insight into how Pip researchers her books.
The historical timeline features Tilda Taylor an actress and suffragette that appeared in Jericho. We now get the story of her working as a nurse in Etaples during WWI and her forbidden love with POW Dr Hugo Henning. Pip’s beautiful writing style really transports you to the hospital. I enjoyed the way she weaved in fictional elements with real life characters of war photographer Iso Rae.
I throughly enjoyed the detailed authors notes at the end. A beautiful exploration of love, desire, art, memory and the untold perspectives of women during the war. For fans of Tracey Chevalier and Holly Ringland
The historical timeline features Tilda Taylor an actress and suffragette that appeared in Jericho. We now get the story of her working as a nurse in Etaples during WWI and her forbidden love with POW Dr Hugo Henning. Pip’s beautiful writing style really transports you to the hospital. I enjoyed the way she weaved in fictional elements with real life characters of war photographer Iso Rae.
I throughly enjoyed the detailed authors notes at the end. A beautiful exploration of love, desire, art, memory and the untold perspectives of women during the war. For fans of Tracey Chevalier and Holly Ringland
October 1, 2026
Pip Williams knows how to create a world. In both 'The Dictionary of Lost Words' and 'The Bookbinder of Jericho' I felt like I was both living in the real past and in the universe of her novels. And like with the Scriptorium, the narrow boat and the bindery, immediately I was transported to the German Ward, and even now that I've finished the book, I can still picture bed four.
But the plot just didn't go anywhere. Tilda thinks about Bill. Tilda thinks about Hugo. Tilda thinks about Helen. Tilda thinks about Bill... We're told that Tilda and Hugo fall in love, but I never felt that. Lust, sure, and there's definitely room to tell that story. But they never interacted enough for me to feel any real connection. I wanted to know how Hugo feels about the fact that he has a wife and son back home. And as such, the unopened letter from Hugo that Tilda holds on to after the war didn't intruige me at all.
Then we have Eva, who in 2025 discovers a series of sketches depicting Tilda and Hugo's relationship, drawn by artist Iso Rae. I was so excited to learn about Iso and her art, and I understand the angle that the book was going for: as an artist, Iso chose to be an observer. But she had maybe two lines of dialogue in the whole book, and it felt like she was only there to serve as a connection between Tilda and Eva's narrative. The present perspective felt unnecessary to me, as though Eva was only interpreting the drawings in such a way to relate back to Tilda, so I could have skipped those parts entirely and still have gotten the full story.
The writing was beautiful as I expected, but I didn't connect with the characters or story as much as I would have liked. I hope Pip Williams keeps expanding the universe of her novels (but please don't make me have to read about Gareth dying a fourth time, my heart can't take any more)
But the plot just didn't go anywhere. Tilda thinks about Bill. Tilda thinks about Hugo. Tilda thinks about Helen. Tilda thinks about Bill... We're told that Tilda and Hugo fall in love, but I never felt that. Lust, sure, and there's definitely room to tell that story. But they never interacted enough for me to feel any real connection. I wanted to know how Hugo feels about the fact that he has a wife and son back home. And as such, the unopened letter from Hugo that Tilda holds on to after the war didn't intruige me at all.
Then we have Eva, who in 2025 discovers a series of sketches depicting Tilda and Hugo's relationship, drawn by artist Iso Rae. I was so excited to learn about Iso and her art, and I understand the angle that the book was going for: as an artist, Iso chose to be an observer. But she had maybe two lines of dialogue in the whole book, and it felt like she was only there to serve as a connection between Tilda and Eva's narrative. The present perspective felt unnecessary to me, as though Eva was only interpreting the drawings in such a way to relate back to Tilda, so I could have skipped those parts entirely and still have gotten the full story.
The writing was beautiful as I expected, but I didn't connect with the characters or story as much as I would have liked. I hope Pip Williams keeps expanding the universe of her novels (but please don't make me have to read about Gareth dying a fourth time, my heart can't take any more)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If I were Pip Williams, I would put down my pen and accept that I had written three of the best books of this century. I know this isn't how authors work, but I'm so scared that she just can't keep it up!
Remember Tilda? She is back.
Set in Etaples over the course of 1917, we follow Tilda as she nurses wounded soldiers coming back from the Western Front. She works across wards, but her most rewarding work comes during her night shifts at the German Ward, where she ministers to the 'enemy' as they lay injured and dying.
Dr Hemming gets delivered for every shift wearing his prisoner jersey, roughly handed over by the Redcaps who accompany him from the prison camp where he 'lives'.
But what Tilda and Dr Hemming find out is that war brings out our fears in ways we could not have anticipated. That to be surrounded by the dying makes us crave for the living in any, and every, form. And that sometimes kindness comes in the most confronting of ways.
A beautiful character study of humanity, desire and truth.
Remember Tilda? She is back.
Set in Etaples over the course of 1917, we follow Tilda as she nurses wounded soldiers coming back from the Western Front. She works across wards, but her most rewarding work comes during her night shifts at the German Ward, where she ministers to the 'enemy' as they lay injured and dying.
Dr Hemming gets delivered for every shift wearing his prisoner jersey, roughly handed over by the Redcaps who accompany him from the prison camp where he 'lives'.
But what Tilda and Dr Hemming find out is that war brings out our fears in ways we could not have anticipated. That to be surrounded by the dying makes us crave for the living in any, and every, form. And that sometimes kindness comes in the most confronting of ways.
A beautiful character study of humanity, desire and truth.
October 3, 2026
Having loved Pip’s previous books, I was delighted to get my hands on this one. Yes it is a story about forbidden love, but it is so much more. It is an exploration of what war does to people, women’s rights, perceptions and portrayal of history. Set in WW 1, the story of the doctors, nurses and prisoners is gently revealed, meanwhile in 2025 Eve is looking at the works of Iso Rae and trying to decode what she is portraying. This is the sort of book that will stay with you, and give you things to ponder about.
October 2, 2026
A luminous story of passion and forbidden love against the backdrop of the brutality of WW1. Set in the Etaples hospital compound where sometimes more than 20,000 soldiers were treated at once, a British nurse falls for a German POW doctor. The tension is exquisite, the writing incredible. I loved it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Loved this book, and its connection with the Bookbinder of Jericho. Details of the artwork also had me searching for images to illuminate the story. Well crafted.
October 3, 2026
Following from The Dictionary of Lost Words, and The Bookbinder of Jericho, this did not disappoint.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews