William—An Englishman

About the book

"William—An Englishman" by Cicely Hamilton is a novel published in 1919. The story follows William Tully through three transformative phases as the First World War shatters his pacifist beliefs. When German forces kill his new bride, his idealism gives way to fierce patriotism, then later to weary disillusionment. Far from a simple anti-war novel, Hamilton's work defends Britain's war effort while critiquing the home pacifist movement. Winner of the first Prix Femina-Vie Heureuse Anglais prize in 1920, it explores marriage, politics, and necessity.