The Night Watch Audiobook By Sarah Waters cover art

The Night Watch

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The Night Watch

By: Sarah Waters
Narrated by: Juanita McMahon
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“[A] wonderful novel…Waters is almost Dickensian in her wealth of description and depth of character.”—Chicago Tribune

Moving back through the 1940s, through air raids, blacked-out streets, illicit partying, and sexual adventure, to end with its beginning in 1941, The Night Watch tells the story of four Londoners—three women and a young man with a past—whose lives, and those of their friends and lovers, connect in tragedy, stunning surprise and exquisite turns, only to change irreversibly in the shadow of a grand historical event.

Accolades & Awards

Lambda Literary Award
2006
Historical Fiction Lambda Literary Award Literary Fiction War & Military Fiction Tearjerking Genre Fiction
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Critic reviews

“Flawless…A sophisticated beautifully written novel.”
—The Washington Post

“Captivating.”
—The New York Times

“Masterful.”
—The Seattle Times

“[A] wonderful novel…Waters is almost Dickensian in her wealth of description and depth of character.”
—Chicago Tribune

“Waters has the gift of story, the ability to dissolve the distance between reader and subject until nothing but experience remains.”
—Los Angeles Times

“Compelling…sexually and psychologically provocative.”
—USA Today
All stars
Most relevant
While this is not Waters' best, it's still a very good read. Juliet Stevenson's narration is tops, once again. I almost felt I was listening to someone with multiple personalities.

Great Combination of Author and Narrator

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If you are a fan of reading things in which the whole point of the story seems to be about the human condition, then you will love this. i just need something more. Waters is skilled at the little details, but would work better as a movie than just a book. Books I require it gives a little more and I found this one lacking personally. But everyone likes different things, and some people may love it.

Just Ok

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I didn't care much for this story. As usual, Sarah Waters writes beautifully, but the plot line was slow moving and the ending was not the payoff I was expecting. I really enjoyed the other novels of hers I read/listened too, The Little Stranger and The Paying Guests. I would recommend those over this novel.

slow moving without a satisfying conclusion

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I liked the story and enjoyed it
I found it a little strange that the later time period was our first… and also felt that it was quite graphic (like an hour plus on an abortion… and other things) but really loved it despite those complaints. If you are ok with graphic things and love history and queer story lines, give it a listen!

Kinda conflicted

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Good story, a little confusing till you get the hang of the reverse chronological storylines. Very detailed description of the streets of the London, made me feel like I had lived there myself. Excellent performance!

Good romance during wartime Britton

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