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The German Ward
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26The love story of the a breathtaking new novel from the author of global bestsellers
The Dictionary of Lost Words
and
The Bookbinder of Jericho
. A story of love between enemies behind the lines of WW1 and the Australian artist who captures their secret.
This is a novel about the desire for sensation when trauma has left you numb; the desire to observe and record when your perspective is not valued; the desire to understand the past when only fragments remain.
On the front lines of France in 1915, an English nurse and a German doctor fall in love. Her name is Tilda, his name is Hugo and he is a prisoner of war. Their love is forbidden and doomed, and it would have gone unrecorded if not for Tilda’s friend, the Australian artist Iso Rae. Denied the chance to be an official war artist because she is a woman, Iso paints the war regardless, and glimpses of Hugo and Tilda make it into her work. A century later, when these drawings are discovered by a researcher, they become a puzzle for her to who are these lovers, what became of them, and what story was Iso 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, this is one of Australia’s most significant writers reaching the height of her skills.
This is a novel about the desire for sensation when trauma has left you numb; the desire to observe and record when your perspective is not valued; the desire to understand the past when only fragments remain.
On the front lines of France in 1915, an English nurse and a German doctor fall in love. Her name is Tilda, his name is Hugo and he is a prisoner of war. Their love is forbidden and doomed, and it would have gone unrecorded if not for Tilda’s friend, the Australian artist Iso Rae. Denied the chance to be an official war artist because she is a woman, Iso paints the war regardless, and glimpses of Hugo and Tilda make it into her work. A century later, when these drawings are discovered by a researcher, they become a puzzle for her to who are these lovers, what became of them, and what story was Iso 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, this is one of Australia’s most significant writers reaching the height of her skills.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
Pip Williams
20 books2,489 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 of 1 review
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.
Displaying 1 of 1 review