A Theory in vienna
By Heidi Gallacher
Publication Date: October 28th, 2025
Publisher: The Book Guild
Pages: 305
Genre: Historical Fiction
‘I bring to light a truth, which was unknown for many centuries with direful results for the human race.’ – Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis.
Imagine you’d discovered something. Something that could save hundreds of thousands of lives. But they wouldn’t let you tell anyone. Wouldn’t it drive you mad?
Young Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis uncovers the real reason thousands of young women are dying after childbirth. Yet, in mid-19th century Europe, his simple methods are ridiculed. Semmelweis faces the battle of his life to convince others that the cause is simple…
Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, A Theory in Vienna brings the remarkable story of this man to life.
Praise for A Theory in Vienna:
'A booked based on truth, and this novel didn't disappoint.'
~ Andrew, 5* Amazon Review
An interview with Heidi Gallacher
What inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always felt that I had a book within me. Writing became the way to find out what that book was - a way of turning curiosity and restlessness into something shaped and shareable. I took writing courses, culminating in a Masters in Creative Writing. What began as an instinct eventually became a discipline, yet the impulse is still the same: to follow the stories, like Semmelweis’s, that won’t leave me alone. This is the third novel I have written.
What was the hardest part in writing this book?
The hardest part was the sheer commitment the book demanded. Writing it meant giving a great
deal of time to research - not just facts and dates, but the emotional texture of the period - and
trusting that this would eventually find its shape on the page. Allowing the book to unfold slowly, and accepting the patience that required, was difficult at times, but essential to telling Semmelweis’s story honestly.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Actually two characters do, in particular. Firstly Felix, whose quiet loyalty and friendship offered Semmelweis moments of grounding, and also Maria, Semmelweis’s wife, whose steadfast support carried him through even as everything began to fall apart. Both reminded me that even in the loneliest struggles, kindness and companionship matter. And not forgetting Semmelweis himself, whose incredible story is the reason for this book. He will always hold a special place in my heart.
If your book were to be made into a movie, who would star in it?
I love this question and I feel the novel would lend itself well to moviehood!
For Semmelweis, I would choose Mark Rylance, whose quiet intensity and emotional depth feel
perfectly suited to the role. He has successfully portrayed Semmelweis on stage in the West End.
For Maria, I could see Catherine Zeta-Jones, who brings both strength and warmth, and for Felix,
someone like Paul Mescal - understated, humane, and quietly loyal.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
I hope my readers come away with a deeper appreciation for how change really happens - often
quietly, slowly, and through care rather than grand gestures. How perseverance will lead to results, and never to give up, especially if you feel the truth is near. I hope the book will encourage attentiveness: to overlooked voices, to uncomfortable truths, and to small acts of compassion.
Buy this Book
Heidi Gallacher
Heidi was born in London in the Sixties. She grew up in South Wales, UK and moved to Paris as a young adult where she taught English for two years. She currently lives in Switzerland and recently completed an MA in Creative Writing.
Her first short story was published in Prima magazine (UK) in 2018. Heidi now writes historical fiction. Her first novel, Rebecca’s Choice, is set in Tredelerch - an old house in Wales that belonged to her family generations ago. This novel won an award from the Coffee Pot Book Club in 2020, Debut Novel Bronze Medal.
Her second novel, A Theory in Vienna, is set in 19th century Vienna and Budapest. It tells the incredible story of unsung hero Ignaz Semmelweis, whose life-saving discovery was ridiculed at the time.
Heidi enjoys travelling (the further North the better!), singing and writing songs, and spending time reading and writing at her Swiss chalet where the views are amazing.
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Thank you so much for hosting Heidi Gallacher, with such a fabulous chat about writing, and her fascinating new novel, A Theory in Vienna.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club