Thursday 29 October 2009

The Night Watch by Sarah Waters (Review)


In the opening paragraph of 'The Mystery of Marie Rogêt', Edgar Allan Poe writes: 'There are few persons even among the calmest thinkers, who have not occasionally been startled into a vague yet thrillingly half-credence in the supernatural, by coincidences of so seemingly marvellous a character that, as mere coincidences, the intellect has been unable to receive them. Such sentiments - for the half-credences of which I speak have never the full force of thought - such sentiments are seldom thoroughly stifled unless by reference to the doctrine of chance, or, as it is technically termed, the Calculus of Probabilities. Now this Calculus is, in its essence, purely mathematical; and thus we have the anomaly of the most rigidly exact in science applied to the shadow and spirituality of the most intangible speculation'.

Of course, Poe was chiefly referring to the phenomenon that Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin, the mastermind behind the solutions to puzzles such as The Murders of the The Rue Morgue, scrutinised, analysed and broke down into pieces. But coincidences, if well used, can be and are the backbone of many great novels.

In 'The Night Watch', for instance, Sarah Water tells the story of four characters who are linked to one another by their experiences in wartime London. The way she weaves their personal stories together reminded me of Poe's words, only that in this instance this happenstance is more cause-and-effect than random, as there is a war going on and naturally people gravitate to wherever safety beckons.

'The Night Watch' is an interesting novel in that it uses reverse chronology. It travels from 1947 (first chapter) back through the heavy bombardments of 1944 (second part) to the end-of-the-world atmosphere of 1941 (final episode). Thus we meet the characters through the consequences of their actions, and journey back to what caused them.

The book opens with Kay, one of the main characters, being observed by Duncan - another leading personage - and the latter thinking her a left-over from the global conflict that has just finished. It is chiefly Kay's man's clothes and alertness that lead him to see her in this light. But it's not just Duncan who has this opinion of Kay; passersby, too, jeer at her appearance. Unfortunately they cannot read her thoughts, nor realise that it was during the war that her finest hour had come. Driving an ambulance through bombed-out streets, Kay became alive; she got to write the script of her own novel. Now, all she has left in her life are lonely walks through the very same streets whose devastation she witnessed first-hand and cinemas which she often enters halfway through the film.

The other two main characters that make up the leading quartet are Viv and Helen. The former is Duncan's devoted sister and the latter Kay's former girlfriend's lover. Viv is having an affair with a married man, Reggie, whilst Helen feels anxious about her own relationship with Julia, Kay's ex.

Waters's chaotic narrative is an excellent vehicle through which to witness the sense of dislocation of both the leading and supporting dramatis personae. Through Duncan we are introduced to Mr Mundy, an enigmatic 'uncle', who turns out to be a former warden in the prison where Duncan served time for his role in another man's death. Each incident, no matter how minute, is turned into a piece of the gigantic jigsaw puzzle Sarah has made for the reader. At times, 'The Night Watch' reads like a mystery novel; revelation after revelation lets us know how each character's frame of mind came to be.

It would be simplistic to call this book a gay novel, although the narrative centres around the Kay/Julia/Helen emotional hodgepodge. And Duncan's sexuality is also remarked upon. But 'The Night Watch' goes beyond sexual orientation. It is about class - Fraser, the posh man vs Duncan, the working-class one -, friendship (Mickey and Kay driving an ambulance through war-torn London) and above all about moral attitudes. Viv's abortion scene is harrowing; the secrecy surrounding it all the more unbearable to read when one takes into consideration that in 1947, in the UK, a woman interrupting her own pregnancy ran the risk of being prosecuted. Helen's desire to hold Julia's hand in a park and the latter's reluctance and fear to display any kind of feelings towards her girlfriend, shows how far the gay community has come since the Sexual Offenses Act was amended in the 60s and homosexuality decriminalised.

It felt somewhat strange, at least for me, to read a novel that is preceded by three others I have not read yet. It is almost like arriving at a dinner party as the dessert is being served. But Sarah Waters is a compelling writer. Passages like the following one (Duncan and Fraser in prison after another night air raid has finished and the latter winds up in the former's bed) render the novel its humane and affectionate nature: 'They moved closer together, not further apart. Duncan put up his arm and Fraser raised himself so that the arm could go beneath his head. They settled back into an embrace - as if it were nothing, as if it were easy; as if it weren't two boys, in a prison, in a city being blown and shot to bits; as if it were the most natural thing in the world.'

Copyright 2009

Next Post: 'Sunday Mornings: Coffee, Reflections and Music' to be published on Sunday 1st November at 10am (GMT)

20 comments:

  1. Having just recently finished The Little Stranger, the latest offering from Ms. Waters, I now want to read all her works. This one must be next!! Thank you for the review!

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  2. Anita Shreve's book, Strange Fits of Passion, I just finished starts with a future event and works its way back to explain itself. It's an interesting way to go through a novel and I enjoyed it. This Sarah Waters book sounds intriguing, as I love suspense and trying to "figure out the puzzle." Thanks for the review, Cuban...I might pick that one up!

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  3. Sounds interesting. Thanks for the review. I especially like the idea of going backwards through time to see what lead to where the story begins. I love playing with time.

    Much love

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  4. I always love your reviews. Isn't a certain Scorpio about to have a birthday?

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  5. Yes. I agree with your review. I thoroughly enjoyed this most original novel. I think she has another one out, no?

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  6. Thanks for the review. I'll add this to my list of "Books Cuban Recommended and Must Buy."

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  7. Thanks for your kind comments.

    Greetings from London.

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  8. What a great review - definitely added this to my "must read" list. So many books...so little time! :) Silke

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  9. Your review is intriguing. I'm particularly drawn because of the comparisons you make with Poe's writing. I'm also interested in the coincidences aspect. I don't believe in coincidence, but rather that when something that we perceive to be coincidence has occurred, something else, on a much larger scale than we are able to understand, is really happening. It seems I will be adding one more item to my wish list, then. I've never read anything by Sarah Waters, and I will give this a shot. Thank you for a fascinating and informative review, Cuban. And have a fabulous weekend!

    Nevine

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  10. Oh, the last quote about "as if it were the most natural thing in the world..." is simply heartbreaking. I will look for this book. And I share your love of London!

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  11. Sounds like a very compelling, intricately woven novel. That passage shows a lot of language facility. Ah yes, isn't it Scorpio birthday time?

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  12. "Thus we meet the characters through the consequences of their actions, and journey back to what caused them." ....

    This sounds so interesting-intriguing! ... a well-done write up....

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  13. How could I have forgotten?! You share the same birthday with my daughter!

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  14. You are so committed to clarity and detail..definitely pointed me in the direction of The Night Watch..
    What we call coincidence is the Universe playing games with us...

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  15. This was a really nice review, I shall look this book out. I was born in London just after WW2 in a smoky old grey November. I love to read of this time and further back, when my parents loved lived and work through this time. I love London with a passion and as you may have heard the expression before "When you are tired of London, you are tired of Life" I shall read this. Thank you. Sincere regards.

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  16. Greetings from very hot Phnom Penh. Thanks for this book review, I was thinking of reading for a while now and I'll pick it up when I'm back in London. Have a nice rest of the weekend.

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  17. Many thanks for your lovely feedback.

    Greetings from London.

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  18. That book sounds interesting and well researched. I'll read it.

    Secretia

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  19. What a wonderful review. I think you could have a second career. Just in case you ever need one. Ok, now I'm off to my library's website to reserve a copy. Thanks for the review.

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  20. Many thanks for your wonderful feedback.

    Greetings from London.

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