the_welsh_girl_ho_davies
2009 Nominated

The Welsh Girl

artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

When a POW camp is established near her village, seventeen-year-old barmaid Esther Evans finds herself strangely drawn to the camp and its forlorn captives. She is exploring the camp boundary when the astonishing occurs: Karsten, a young German corporal, calls out to her from behind the fence. From that moment on, the two foster a secret relationship that will ultimately put them both at risk. Meanwhile, another foreigner, the German-Jewish interrogator Rotherham, travels to Wales to investigate Britain’s most notorious Nazi prisoner, Rudolf Hess. In this richly drawn and thought-provoking work, all will come to question where they belong and where their loyalties lie.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Peter
Ho Davies

Peter Ho Davies was born in 1966 to Welsh and Chinese parents. He grew up in Coventry, studied at Cambridge University and is currently teaching in the US. His prizewinning stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies. His first collection, The Ugliest House in the World, won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. In 2000, he published Equal Love, and in 2003 he was named as one of Granta magazine’s Best of Young British Novelists. His novel The Welsh Girl was published in 2007.

Peter Ho Davies was born in 1966 to Welsh and Chinese parents. He grew up in Coventry, studied at Cambridge University and is currently teaching in the US. His prizewinning stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies. His first collection, The Ugliest House in the World, won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. In 2000, he published Equal Love, and in 2003 he was named as one of Granta magazine’s Best of Young British Novelists. His novel The Welsh Girl was published in 2007.

We're sorry, but we couldn't find any translators matching your search. Please try using different keywords or check back later as we regularly update our collection.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

Davies’ first novel examines the themes of cowardice and dislocation through the stories of a 17-year old Welsh girl and the detainees of a WWII German Pow camp built by the British in rural Wales.

Beautifully written. Romance develops under circumstances that challenge loyalty to each other and their countries.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
United Kingdom
Original Language
English
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin

RELATED FEATURES

Video August 27 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Winner in Conversation

Watch 2026 Dublin Literary Award winner, Ali Smith, and author Belinda McKeon in conversation, which took place on 22nd May 2026 at the Dublin International Literature Festival
Video August 27 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony

Watch back the 2026 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony which took place on 21st May 2026
News May 21 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Winner Revealed

Discover this year's winner!
Video May 16 2026

Brigitte Giraud – Live Fast Q&A

Q&A Session with 2026 Dublin Literary Award shortlisted author Brigitte Giraud, author of Live Fast, exploring the inspirations behind her novel.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.