The Night Watch is Sarah Waters' first foray out of the Victorian era into another time period, and it showcases her prodigious talent. The novel begins in 1947, and moves backwards in time twice, following the interconnected lives of four people living in London during the Blitz and in the aftermath of WWII. Helen works at a matchmaking agency and lives in secret with her love, the novelist Julia. Viv works with Helen, and strives to maintain a façade of perfection to deflect unwarranted attention into her private life. Kay drives an ambulance and in her off hours, searches the streets of London for potential love affairs. Duncan lives with a man he calls Uncle Horace, whom he shepherds once a week to a faith healer modeled after Mary Baker Eddy. He, too, guards many secrets.

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