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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, Paperback
First published September 29, 2026
About the author
Pip Williams
21 books2,588 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 - 30 of 130 reviews
November 4, 2026
The book is set in a French military hospital behind the lines in WW1. The title of German ward refers to a hospital ward for the treatment of injured German prisoners of war. The surgeon for the ward is German too and Tilda is an English Red Cross volunteer who develops a relationship with him.
There is much more to this story than just an ill matched romance. Really interesting is the inclusion of Tilda's friend, an Australian artist called Iso Rae who really did exist and who documented the war in her pictures. There is an intriguing current day story too featuring Eva who is researching Rae's life and work.
This is another stunning book from one of my most favourite authors. Pip Williams writes with such a beautiful style and her characters are always charming and memorable. I enjoyed every word. Five stars
There is much more to this story than just an ill matched romance. Really interesting is the inclusion of Tilda's friend, an Australian artist called Iso Rae who really did exist and who documented the war in her pictures. There is an intriguing current day story too featuring Eva who is researching Rae's life and work.
This is another stunning book from one of my most favourite authors. Pip Williams writes with such a beautiful style and her characters are always charming and memorable. I enjoyed every word. Five stars
October 21, 2026
Well, it's going to be a bestseller because anything Pip Williams writes is a bestseller. But alas, The German Ward) is just another WW1 semi-historical novel featuring *yawn* women whose contributions have been overlooked. The first of these involves a romance featuring Forbidden Love i.e. the well-worn cliché of a nurse falling for a doctor but in this case The Desirable Doctor is #A Hun! The Enemy! i.e. a German POW in Étaples, France. (The British VAD (i.e. volunteer untrained nurse) BTW is a recycled character from The Bookbinder of Jericho )
Of course there must be a dual timeline to make it Relevant to the Present Day, and preferably one that will entice Australian readers and theoretically make it eligible for the Miles Franklin. So there's also An Overlooked Australian Woman researcher in Canberra who persists with unfunded research into An Overlooked Australian Woman Artist who documented scenes in this WW1 ward for PoWs despite being rejected as a War Artist. Her artworks, in suitably enigmatic ways, captured the Forbidden Romance.
Ok, got that? That's really all you need to know. Except that it is too long for itself, it is dreary in the middle and the author seems to have gone out of her way to render some nauseating detail.
Of course there must be a dual timeline to make it Relevant to the Present Day, and preferably one that will entice Australian readers and theoretically make it eligible for the Miles Franklin. So there's also An Overlooked Australian Woman researcher in Canberra who persists with unfunded research into An Overlooked Australian Woman Artist who documented scenes in this WW1 ward for PoWs despite being rejected as a War Artist. Her artworks, in suitably enigmatic ways, captured the Forbidden Romance.
Ok, got that? That's really all you need to know. Except that it is too long for itself, it is dreary in the middle and the author seems to have gone out of her way to render some nauseating detail.
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.
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
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.
October 25, 2026
On the back cover, in big writing, you read: “THIS IS A BOOK ABOUT DESIRE.”
Whichever copy editor put that there has sold the book short - this is a book about who gets to tell stories of war, caring for your enemy, the historical role of women in courageous caretaking, dignity for victims of war - no matter what side they are on - finding grace behind enemy lines, impossible decisions when it comes to caring for the dying and, well yes … desire.
I loved Tilda- our protagonist with little regards for the rules, but who listens to the soft animal of her body in discerning what is right and wrong. She moves with compassion and tenderness and heart, and that places her well in the German ward - to care for her enemy. I didn’t know that British nurses were caring for German soldiers in the Great War - although it shouldn’t surprise me that acts of radical compassion are a part of war.
It is worth noting this is not a sexually explicit book - even if it is “about desire.”
Whichever copy editor put that there has sold the book short - this is a book about who gets to tell stories of war, caring for your enemy, the historical role of women in courageous caretaking, dignity for victims of war - no matter what side they are on - finding grace behind enemy lines, impossible decisions when it comes to caring for the dying and, well yes … desire.
I loved Tilda- our protagonist with little regards for the rules, but who listens to the soft animal of her body in discerning what is right and wrong. She moves with compassion and tenderness and heart, and that places her well in the German ward - to care for her enemy. I didn’t know that British nurses were caring for German soldiers in the Great War - although it shouldn’t surprise me that acts of radical compassion are a part of war.
It is worth noting this is not a sexually explicit book - even if it is “about desire.”
October 10, 2026
I loved the Dictionary of Lost Words and the Bookbinder of Jericho and was excited to read this. It was largely a disappointment 😔 The premise of the story was good but it wasn’t enough to carry a whole book - it was repetitive and dull - I wanted to like it so much but I didn’t. I loved the ending the best - but getting there was a chore
October 10, 2026
Rating
4.25 💎
1 🌶️
Summary
I was left deeply moved by its layered characters, dual timelines, and emotional depth. Tilda's longing to feel something in a world shaped by fear stayed with me long after I turned the final page, while Eva's determination to uncover hidden stories brought the past vividly to life. I loved how the timelines intertwined. Iso's sketches became one of the most powerful elements of the story, preserving overlooked moments and giving voice to those who may otherwise have been forgotten. The longing, sacrifice, and forbidden romance were beautifully woven throughout, making this a compelling historical fiction novel that I won't soon forget.
While Reading Thoughts
💙Wow that last few chapters where it all came to and end was phenomenal and just hit!
💙I think they are trying to feel something anything and the closeness gives them something good while surrounding by so much bad. I am definitely thinking they are going to be caught and it is not going to go down well.
💙Iso’s part in the story of the ward was one of observations and to capture that with which would have been neglected in the stories of others. She was the one that was able to piece together the moments that were missed.
💙The way Eva sees more than just drawings when she looks at ISO’s work is unbelievable. The connections she see’s is building into so much more. I still wonder if she is the one hinting on what is to come.
💙The need that radiated off Tilda to feel something, anything was felt right off the page.
Words that linger
💬 i’d come to appreciate a well tucked sheet – it was a moment of control at a time and control was elusive.
💬He is in bed for, a lucky number in Germany. Now he thinks he’s lucky to have lost one leg and not too, to be alive and not dead, to be a prisoner in a warm bed and not a soldier in the mud.
💬We had tried to kill them, but they didn’t die, so now we try to save them. How insane!
💬He had warmed my hands and restored feeling. I’ve been dulled by that place, but now I was alert and wanting.
💬I belonged for something, was aching for it. I became deaf and blind to caution.
💬Your friends, your lovers, your brother. They have no choice. They’ve been given a gun. But not you.
Tropes
🏥WW1 setting
🏥Forbidden love
🏥Forced proximity
🏥Yearning
🏥Wartime division
4.25 💎
1 🌶️
Summary
I was left deeply moved by its layered characters, dual timelines, and emotional depth. Tilda's longing to feel something in a world shaped by fear stayed with me long after I turned the final page, while Eva's determination to uncover hidden stories brought the past vividly to life. I loved how the timelines intertwined. Iso's sketches became one of the most powerful elements of the story, preserving overlooked moments and giving voice to those who may otherwise have been forgotten. The longing, sacrifice, and forbidden romance were beautifully woven throughout, making this a compelling historical fiction novel that I won't soon forget.
While Reading Thoughts
💙Wow that last few chapters where it all came to and end was phenomenal and just hit!
💙I think they are trying to feel something anything and the closeness gives them something good while surrounding by so much bad. I am definitely thinking they are going to be caught and it is not going to go down well.
💙Iso’s part in the story of the ward was one of observations and to capture that with which would have been neglected in the stories of others. She was the one that was able to piece together the moments that were missed.
💙The way Eva sees more than just drawings when she looks at ISO’s work is unbelievable. The connections she see’s is building into so much more. I still wonder if she is the one hinting on what is to come.
💙The need that radiated off Tilda to feel something, anything was felt right off the page.
Words that linger
💬 i’d come to appreciate a well tucked sheet – it was a moment of control at a time and control was elusive.
💬He is in bed for, a lucky number in Germany. Now he thinks he’s lucky to have lost one leg and not too, to be alive and not dead, to be a prisoner in a warm bed and not a soldier in the mud.
💬We had tried to kill them, but they didn’t die, so now we try to save them. How insane!
💬He had warmed my hands and restored feeling. I’ve been dulled by that place, but now I was alert and wanting.
💬I belonged for something, was aching for it. I became deaf and blind to caution.
💬Your friends, your lovers, your brother. They have no choice. They’ve been given a gun. But not you.
Tropes
🏥WW1 setting
🏥Forbidden love
🏥Forced proximity
🏥Yearning
🏥Wartime division
October 7, 2026
Big thanks to Affirm Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
Pip Williams is an award winning and New York Times bestselling author.
Her first two books have won many awards and now will her third go the same way.
The German Ward has just hit the new release shelves and my first reading experience with her.
A forbidden love that breaks all the rules.
It’s 1915 in France and the First World War is in full battle.
While that is going on, injured soldiers are rapidly arriving in a medical ward.
Meanwhile, a confident nurse and a prisoner of war doctor fall in love.
A century later, a young woman discovers drawings that expose that secret romance.
Now she wants to uncover who they were and what happened…..
Being marketed as “the love story of the year” is a little misleading in my opinion, as there’s a lot more going on than that.
I’m probably in the minority here, I didn’t love it but did enjoy it.
I found it was a slow start and I favoured the historical storyline more so.
Without giving anything away, there was something that irked me and maybe because of this it affected my reading interest.
Now with that being said, the narrative of the love story, I felt at times did shine but I wanted more of the other issues going on around them to be more highlighted as well.
It’s a good read but could have been better, I thought.
Pip Williams is an award winning and New York Times bestselling author.
Her first two books have won many awards and now will her third go the same way.
The German Ward has just hit the new release shelves and my first reading experience with her.
A forbidden love that breaks all the rules.
It’s 1915 in France and the First World War is in full battle.
While that is going on, injured soldiers are rapidly arriving in a medical ward.
Meanwhile, a confident nurse and a prisoner of war doctor fall in love.
A century later, a young woman discovers drawings that expose that secret romance.
Now she wants to uncover who they were and what happened…..
Being marketed as “the love story of the year” is a little misleading in my opinion, as there’s a lot more going on than that.
I’m probably in the minority here, I didn’t love it but did enjoy it.
I found it was a slow start and I favoured the historical storyline more so.
Without giving anything away, there was something that irked me and maybe because of this it affected my reading interest.
Now with that being said, the narrative of the love story, I felt at times did shine but I wanted more of the other issues going on around them to be more highlighted as well.
It’s a good read but could have been better, I thought.
October 10, 2026
I want to live inside Pip Williams’ books forever I am obsessed I loved this so so much and cried the usual amount I cry for her stories 🥲❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
October 18, 2026
🎧The German Ward by Pip Williams 🎧
⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half ⭐️
Read as the Bookclub book of the month.
I have absolutely loved Pip Williams beautiful stories and amazing character development in 'The Dictionary of Lost Words' and 'The Bookbinder of Jericho.' I was super excited to listen to this book being a huge fan of Pip's work.
I found there was a disconnect in this book. The book jumps from Tilda, a English nurse on the German Ward in France in 1915, the Australian artist who draws her and Eva who analyses her drawings in the present day. Tilda was a fabulous character but I wasn't convinced Tilda and the German doctor Hugo, who was a prisoner of war were in love. I believe their connection was perhaps trauma bonding of their environment. Hugo, being a married man with a child desired Tilda but wasn't in love. I wasn't convinced by the writing they were in love.
I feel the book could have explored this more and Eva's character in the present day was a distraction from the main story and some fabulouscharacterson 1915. I would have loved more about the artist. Tilda was a amazing strong female character who embraced her sexuality and the writting around this was beautiful.
The pace went from medium to a slow burn to medium. I did enjoy the ending. I really wanted to love this- but it fell a bit flat for me unfortunately.
"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?"
#aussiebookreviewer #aussiebookreviews #aussiebookstagram #aussieauthorappreciation #aussiebookbloger
⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half ⭐️
Read as the Bookclub book of the month.
I have absolutely loved Pip Williams beautiful stories and amazing character development in 'The Dictionary of Lost Words' and 'The Bookbinder of Jericho.' I was super excited to listen to this book being a huge fan of Pip's work.
I found there was a disconnect in this book. The book jumps from Tilda, a English nurse on the German Ward in France in 1915, the Australian artist who draws her and Eva who analyses her drawings in the present day. Tilda was a fabulous character but I wasn't convinced Tilda and the German doctor Hugo, who was a prisoner of war were in love. I believe their connection was perhaps trauma bonding of their environment. Hugo, being a married man with a child desired Tilda but wasn't in love. I wasn't convinced by the writing they were in love.
I feel the book could have explored this more and Eva's character in the present day was a distraction from the main story and some fabulouscharacterson 1915. I would have loved more about the artist. Tilda was a amazing strong female character who embraced her sexuality and the writting around this was beautiful.
The pace went from medium to a slow burn to medium. I did enjoy the ending. I really wanted to love this- but it fell a bit flat for me unfortunately.
"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?"
#aussiebookreviewer #aussiebookreviews #aussiebookstagram #aussieauthorappreciation #aussiebookbloger
October 25, 2026
I liked it but I didn’t love it. I was expecting something more emotional. Some big moment that would rip my heart out. It didn’t come and I wanted it to. Good read and well written. Just didn’t pack the punch I thought it would.
October 17, 2026
A lovely read. Extremely well researched, to the point that it's hard to believe this didn't really happen. I enjoyed seeing the characters from her other books cameo/be mentioned.
October 12, 2026
Historically interesting and gritty in its depiction of this facet of WW1
I didn’t like the main character Tilda. I didn’t like her in the first book either and I didn’t realise this book was about her when I started so perhaps I may not have read it.
It’s a heavy and very sad story with very graphic detail and I think you get the horror of nursing in the war but the characters had little depth and were not particularly likeable. It didn’t feel the love between them only the horror of what they were experiencing. Eva as a character was very weak and underdeveloped. What even was her story????? That seemed unfinished.
I loved Pip Williams first two books but this was largely disappointing.
I didn’t like the main character Tilda. I didn’t like her in the first book either and I didn’t realise this book was about her when I started so perhaps I may not have read it.
It’s a heavy and very sad story with very graphic detail and I think you get the horror of nursing in the war but the characters had little depth and were not particularly likeable. It didn’t feel the love between them only the horror of what they were experiencing. Eva as a character was very weak and underdeveloped. What even was her story????? That seemed unfinished.
I loved Pip Williams first two books but this was largely disappointing.
October 22, 2026
You know I don't know as much about WWI than I do about WWII. Don't get me wrong, I know the basics but I seem to know far more about WWII. Almost an indecent amount more.
That didn't stop me from understanding the context of this story. Funnily enough, I did think the title implied it was about the different meaning of a ward ha ha.
This refers to a hospital ward everyone ha ha. Just making that clear.
Firstly, I need to point out the obvious and say that this reminded me of Kristin Hannah's The Women. Both women were technically nurses during a war and they fell for someone they shouldn't of/someone who was married. At first, I had a hard time understanding Tilda. It almost seemed like she was being pushy with Hugo bordering on questionable consent.
Also, she was bisexual? It's rare to read a story taking place in this time period about a bisexual woman that isn't one of my pure smut books. Tilda obviously had a great love with Helen who died before the storyline of this book takes place. She's also friends with the artist Iso who seems to be a bit infatuated with her. Go Tilda. It's nice to see 40 something women have that power. Perhaps that is why I felt like I had a hard time with that? I obviously feel invisible now that I'm that age.
Even at the end when she's in her 60's she still mentioned that she was flirting with the POWs while nursing. They explained her background vaguely but with the mention of Oxford and the fires, we can tell she was a suffragette and that movement was discussed in The Dictionary of Lost Words.
Let's address the other elephant in the room too - how do we feel with the story of Tilda and Hugo knowing the context of their situations? Despite him being married and him being the enemy, she still pursues him. Did he want this? Did she want this or was she just lonely? The ending does seems like they may have had more than was described but they were both hot and cold the whole time.
I do like how Pip Williams ties into her other books like The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho. I have yet to read the latter but as I understand, the character of Jack is in that one. My heart broke all over again when Gareth from The Dictionary of Lost Words was mentioned. WHYYYYYYYYYYY. Why take Gareth away? I'm still so upset about that.
Perhaps I should think of their relationship like that popular idiom/proverb, "all is fair in love and war."
Side books: The Dictionary of Lost Words, The Bookbinder of Jericho, All Quiet on the Western Front
That didn't stop me from understanding the context of this story. Funnily enough, I did think the title implied it was about the different meaning of a ward ha ha.
This refers to a hospital ward everyone ha ha. Just making that clear.
Firstly, I need to point out the obvious and say that this reminded me of Kristin Hannah's The Women. Both women were technically nurses during a war and they fell for someone they shouldn't of/someone who was married. At first, I had a hard time understanding Tilda. It almost seemed like she was being pushy with Hugo bordering on questionable consent.
Also, she was bisexual? It's rare to read a story taking place in this time period about a bisexual woman that isn't one of my pure smut books. Tilda obviously had a great love with Helen who died before the storyline of this book takes place. She's also friends with the artist Iso who seems to be a bit infatuated with her. Go Tilda. It's nice to see 40 something women have that power. Perhaps that is why I felt like I had a hard time with that? I obviously feel invisible now that I'm that age.
Even at the end when she's in her 60's she still mentioned that she was flirting with the POWs while nursing. They explained her background vaguely but with the mention of Oxford and the fires, we can tell she was a suffragette and that movement was discussed in The Dictionary of Lost Words.
Let's address the other elephant in the room too - how do we feel with the story of Tilda and Hugo knowing the context of their situations? Despite him being married and him being the enemy, she still pursues him. Did he want this? Did she want this or was she just lonely? The ending does seems like they may have had more than was described but they were both hot and cold the whole time.
I do like how Pip Williams ties into her other books like The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho. I have yet to read the latter but as I understand, the character of Jack is in that one. My heart broke all over again when Gareth from The Dictionary of Lost Words was mentioned. WHYYYYYYYYYYY. Why take Gareth away? I'm still so upset about that.
Perhaps I should think of their relationship like that popular idiom/proverb, "all is fair in love and war."
Side books: The Dictionary of Lost Words, The Bookbinder of Jericho, All Quiet on the Western Front
October 20, 2026
A compelling, historical fiction novel; Pip Williams' storytelling and weaving skills are outstanding. Beautifully written, The German Ward is a story about war, grief, art, longing, and forbidden love. Multiple timelines and perspectives, blending historical facts and fiction—Pip explores the human devastation and tragedies of war, as well as the internal conflict of duty, loyalty, and compassion.
Present time, Eva's curiosity is piqued after discovering a few unfinished art sketches at the Australian War Memorial archives. She is captivated, and this begins her research: who is the woman in these sketches? And what is her story? (I admire Eva's determination to uncover the hidden story laid out in front of her.)
Past, Tilda Taylor is a former actress and a VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) nurse at Étaples, France. She is stubborn, independent, and not a fan of rules (she breaks them). Tilda has a lot of internal struggles; feeling numb and a little lost, she is desperate to feel anything. Dr. Hugo Henning is a doctor at the German Ward and a prisoner of war. And Iso Rae, the artist who documented and told a story by capturing her surroundings and their forbidden love story.
The characters, both historical and fictional elements, captivated me. The German Ward was my first read by this author, and I am looking forward to reading more of Pip's work! And I really enjoyed reading the author's note, especially when she explained how this novel was brought to life.
Present time, Eva's curiosity is piqued after discovering a few unfinished art sketches at the Australian War Memorial archives. She is captivated, and this begins her research: who is the woman in these sketches? And what is her story? (I admire Eva's determination to uncover the hidden story laid out in front of her.)
Past, Tilda Taylor is a former actress and a VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) nurse at Étaples, France. She is stubborn, independent, and not a fan of rules (she breaks them). Tilda has a lot of internal struggles; feeling numb and a little lost, she is desperate to feel anything. Dr. Hugo Henning is a doctor at the German Ward and a prisoner of war. And Iso Rae, the artist who documented and told a story by capturing her surroundings and their forbidden love story.
The characters, both historical and fictional elements, captivated me. The German Ward was my first read by this author, and I am looking forward to reading more of Pip's work! And I really enjoyed reading the author's note, especially when she explained how this novel was brought to life.
October 14, 2026
The German Ward by Pip Williams is a story of desire between enemies that is set behind the lines of World War One. Their love is captured by an artist and would have gone unrecorded if not for a series of drawings found more than a century later.
At first the drawings seem insignificant, but Eva glimpses moments of intimacy and they 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?
🎨This was my first book by Pip Williams and it certainly won’t be my last. I loved the writing style…the setting was so vivid, and there was great character depth. I enjoyed the dual timeline and the present day assumptions Eva made about Tilda and Hugo’s relationship through her interpretation of Iso’s drawings.
However with that being said, I liked but didn’t love Tilda and it didn’t feel like her and Hugo were in deeply and passionately in love…it felt more like lust and opportunity. So it wasn’t quite the love story of the year like I was expecting it to be, but it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read!
There was a lot to love in The German Ward, it made for a compelling read. It’s a beautifully written historical novel with hope, desire, art and perspective at its heart.
Thank you to @affirmpress for a copy to review.
At first the drawings seem insignificant, but Eva glimpses moments of intimacy and they 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?
🎨This was my first book by Pip Williams and it certainly won’t be my last. I loved the writing style…the setting was so vivid, and there was great character depth. I enjoyed the dual timeline and the present day assumptions Eva made about Tilda and Hugo’s relationship through her interpretation of Iso’s drawings.
However with that being said, I liked but didn’t love Tilda and it didn’t feel like her and Hugo were in deeply and passionately in love…it felt more like lust and opportunity. So it wasn’t quite the love story of the year like I was expecting it to be, but it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read!
There was a lot to love in The German Ward, it made for a compelling read. It’s a beautifully written historical novel with hope, desire, art and perspective at its heart.
Thank you to @affirmpress for a copy to review.
October 10, 2026
“The trick is to know when the rule is worthy and when it is not."
Thank you to the author and the publisher for my advanced copy of The German Ward 🩶
I first fell in love with Pip’s writing when I read The Dictionary of Lost Words and ended up devouring it. The blend of storytelling mixed with historical fiction and the concept of a woman keeping scraps of paper to turn ‘lost words’ into ones that mattered, had me hooked!
The German Ward is unique also in how it reveals a bygone story from World War 1, set in France 1915 and as told through art and drawings discovered over a century later.
I really liked the elements of Iso Rae and how Williams wove the artist’s real time drawings of a time fraught with harshness and grief, to craft a story of what could’ve been.
With Tilda and Hugo, we see two people that never would’ve ordinarily met, become a glimpse of something else: forbidden, enemies, friends, comrades and lovers.
This book is a blend of the real stories that happened and the ones that might’ve been. It holds a subtle beauty within a jarring time and shows how people can and will endure with quiet defiance.
Themes are: Historical Fiction, Art, Wartime, Dual Timelines, Friendship, Hidden Love, What If
Honourable mention to Matron Allison, I loved her plucky bluntness ♥️
Moments that stood out:
‘There are many stories about war I could tell, but this is the only story I trust.’
"We had tried to kill them but they didn't die, so now we try to save them. How insane."
‘At first the drawings seem insignificant, but the woman who finds them glimpses moments of intimacy and can’t look away. The images become 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?’
Thank you to the author and the publisher for my advanced copy of The German Ward 🩶
I first fell in love with Pip’s writing when I read The Dictionary of Lost Words and ended up devouring it. The blend of storytelling mixed with historical fiction and the concept of a woman keeping scraps of paper to turn ‘lost words’ into ones that mattered, had me hooked!
The German Ward is unique also in how it reveals a bygone story from World War 1, set in France 1915 and as told through art and drawings discovered over a century later.
I really liked the elements of Iso Rae and how Williams wove the artist’s real time drawings of a time fraught with harshness and grief, to craft a story of what could’ve been.
With Tilda and Hugo, we see two people that never would’ve ordinarily met, become a glimpse of something else: forbidden, enemies, friends, comrades and lovers.
This book is a blend of the real stories that happened and the ones that might’ve been. It holds a subtle beauty within a jarring time and shows how people can and will endure with quiet defiance.
Themes are: Historical Fiction, Art, Wartime, Dual Timelines, Friendship, Hidden Love, What If
Honourable mention to Matron Allison, I loved her plucky bluntness ♥️
Moments that stood out:
‘There are many stories about war I could tell, but this is the only story I trust.’
"We had tried to kill them but they didn't die, so now we try to save them. How insane."
‘At first the drawings seem insignificant, but the woman who finds them glimpses moments of intimacy and can’t look away. The images become 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?’
November 3, 2026
Such mixed feelings about this novel. Did I enjoy reading it, yes (and reluctantly no). Am I glad I read it, yes. It is an easy read and perhaps that is some of my problem given the subject matter. But, as the blurb says, this is "a story about desire" so the setting needs to be seen in that context. Williams writes beautifully and there are some lovely sections and thoughts in this novel. However, I had major reservations about the writing. The repetition and use of ideas and places - Isolation Road, bed four, the swallows - beautiful, indicative and so descriptive of the setting and yet, to my mind too heavy handed/obvious. The modern day time line served a purpose but (possibly because of my day job) felt wrong, it was there for a specific reason in such an obvious way and ultimately contributed to the tied neatly in a bow ending. As I said very mixed feelings but one thing is for certain, William's research cannot be faulted.
November 6, 2026
This exploration into a British VAD & a German POW doctor in the German Ward was an extremely well-written story.
I loved that the characters had normal flaws. They weren’t perfect. The primary protagonist and main narrative voice was selfish and, at time, vapid. It was a true reflection of humanity. These characters were good. They weren’t inherently bad, but they were flawed. I respected and appreciated this immensely.
Truly loved this book. So happy to read another incredible book by an Australian author.
I loved that the characters had normal flaws. They weren’t perfect. The primary protagonist and main narrative voice was selfish and, at time, vapid. It was a true reflection of humanity. These characters were good. They weren’t inherently bad, but they were flawed. I respected and appreciated this immensely.
Truly loved this book. So happy to read another incredible book by an Australian author.
October 16, 2026
A beautifully crafted story in the style we have come to know of Pip Williams.
A war time story weaved with forbidden love and told through art.
Tilda, our main character, works on the German Ward caring for ‘the enemy’ during WW1. There she meets Hugo, a POW doctor. Their story and the story in general is told through the paintings of Iso. The book alternates between WW1 and present day as Eva tries to decipher the stories behind Iso’s artwork. I loved both Tilda and Hugo as characters. At times I found Eva’s chapters to be a bit jarring.
Favourite quote ‘we tried to kill them, but they didn’t die. So now we try to save them.’
A war time story weaved with forbidden love and told through art.
Tilda, our main character, works on the German Ward caring for ‘the enemy’ during WW1. There she meets Hugo, a POW doctor. Their story and the story in general is told through the paintings of Iso. The book alternates between WW1 and present day as Eva tries to decipher the stories behind Iso’s artwork. I loved both Tilda and Hugo as characters. At times I found Eva’s chapters to be a bit jarring.
Favourite quote ‘we tried to kill them, but they didn’t die. So now we try to save them.’
October 5, 2026
It felt very fitting to read this after visiting the WWI western front battlefields. It was an enjoyable read, but I didn’t quite understand the purpose of the time jump to Eva in 2025… adored Tilda and Hugo, both felt like very well formed and genuine characters.
October 28, 2026
Considering what a big character Tilda was in DoLW I thought she was a bit underwhelming for a lot of this book. Still very readable and again learnt a lot about WW1 I didn’t know before. Personally found the Iso Rae and Eva parts of the book took me out of the story and it was hard to lock in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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
October 16, 2026
Wonderful writing as to be expected from Pip Williams. I didn’t want it to end. Bastard wars!
October 18, 2026
For me this was un-put-down-able. I loved the blend of historical fact and fiction which sent me searching down many rabbit holes looking for more information.
October 19, 2026
Really enjoyed it but it was lowkey confusing at the end???!
October 24, 2026
A passionate but restrained love amongst the horror of WW1, beautifully described. I am left wanting more of all these characters. Now to read The Bookbinder of Jericho again!
October 26, 2026
What a stunning book, plenty of emotions, but just beautiful.
October 31, 2026
Currently struggling to get through this book. It's almost the same as the Dictionary of lost words, just not as good. The only difference being that there's a split in the story to current time. Disappointing 😞.
Not sure I'll finish it.
Not sure I'll finish it.
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