# William—An Englishman — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for William—An Englishman by Cicely Hamilton.

- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/i.md): William Tully, a mild-mannered clerk, emerges from a life of obedience after his mother's death in 1910, inheriting a modest income. He befriends his fellow outsider Faraday and later becomes a Social Reformer, meeting a
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/ii.md): This chapter describes the ideal mating of William and Griselda, who share identical views, rigid standards, and a simple creed centered on 'the People' and 'Woman.' They are portrayed as self-righteous sectarians, pacif
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/iii.md): William and Griselda marry on July 23rd and depart for their honeymoon in the Belgian Ardennes, lent to them by the revolutionary Madame Amberg. Their journey takes them from London to Ostend, then by train and boat to a
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/iv.md): William and Griselda enjoy their final days in the Belgian Ardennes, observing distant soldiers and gunfire which they dismiss as maneuvers, while planning their return to London. They receive an illegible note from Mada
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/v.md): William and Griselda discover the Peys farm deserted, with livestock and carts gone, and a mysterious grave in the garden. They grapple with fear and uncertainty, deciding not to report the grave to authorities due to la
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/vi.md): William and Griselda, eager to escape the now-threatening solitude of the farm, pack hastily and set out for the station. Their relief is shattered when they encounter German soldiers at the farm. A soldier strikes Willi
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/vii.md): William and Griselda are marched into a village occupied by German soldiers, where they witness the execution of two hostages, including the mayor. This event shatters William's belief in the inviolability of law and civ
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/viii.md): William Tully, reeling from witnessing the execution of hostages, confronts the collapse of his pacifist beliefs and experiences a nascent sense of nationality. He and Griselda are interrogated by German officers, who mo
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/ix.md): William is separated from Griselda after their capture by German soldiers. He is forced into hard labor repairing a railway line, and later, amidst the chaos of battle, he searches desperately for her. He encounters a wo
- [X](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/x.md): William and Griselda flee through the night, hiding from patrols and seeking refuge in the woods. After a heavy sleep, William searches the village for Griselda, finding her traumatized and assaulted in an upper room. Th
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/xi.md): William and Griselda, fugitives in the woods, struggle with exhaustion, hunger, and injury. William's mind wanders as he carries Griselda, who is delirious from pain and fever. They find water but little food, and Willia
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/xii.md): William Tully, after finding Griselda's body, spends the night in vigil and grief. With the help of an Englishwoman and a priest, he arranges her burial and prepares to flee the advancing German army.
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/xiii.md): William and Edith Haynes endure a grueling train journey from the Belgian countryside to Paris amidst the chaos of war, facing overcrowded trains, scarce food, and the trauma of recent events. William remains in a state 
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/xiv.md): William Tully, grieving Griselda's death and traveling with Edith Haynes, reads a patriotic article that fails to capture the horrors he witnessed. This spurs a conversion: he resolves to enlist, seeing soldiering as a w
- [XV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/xv.md): William returns to London alone after Griselda's death, haunted by their shared possessions and photograph. He seeks refuge at a familiar socialist meeting, but feels detached and alienated from the proceedings. Faraday 
- [XVI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/xvi.md): After returning to London, William Tully lives in isolation and grief, immersing himself in war literature and history to distract from Griselda's death. He attempts to enlist but is rejected multiple times, until finall
- [XVII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/xvii.md): William Tully, now a clerk in a military office in France, experiences the war as a monotonous routine of filing and typing, far removed from the front lines. He reflects on his disillusionment, the loss of Griselda, and
- [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters/xviii.md): William endures a terrifying air raid, grappling with fear and the absurdity of modern warfare. Later, on leave, he reunites with Edith Haynes in Somerset, revealing his deep disillusionment with war and his past ideals.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/william_an_englishman_se/chapters