Calm at Sunset, Calm at Dawn

A Novel

Paul Watkins spent six years as a crewman on a deep-sea fishing boat. This novel tells his story.

The coast of New England: beautiful but savage, where storms can whip up out of nowhere, and the wrecks wash up on the beach. James Pfeiffer, a young college dropout, is initiated into the gruelling world of the trawler boats, where he discovers the thrill and terror of life at sea.

Paul Watkins’s gripping novel tells the brutal story of life on the trawlers, the danger, the comradeship and the secrets buried deep beneath the surface.

©1989 Paul Watkins (P)1991 Recorded Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

‘Few contemporary novelists have the ability to grab readers by the throat with such intense storytelling power and not release them until the final page has been turned.’—Sunday Times

Underrated Author

I read Archangel shortly after it was published in the 90s. I don't remember the story, except for the first few paragraphs and I absolutely remember the feeling the book gave me. I was/am a voracious reader and, at the time, it was in my top ten. So I was happy to see this one that I'd never heard of available on Audible. I'm writing a review for anyone who is hesitant to get this book because of the lack of reviews (looks like I'll be the second rating and the first to review). Reviewers in the 90s said this story lacked a plot and was really just niche about a fishing subculture. It's true that this book is not plot driven, but it's character and feeling driven, it's the atmosphere. I read his books for the journey. The narrator is great as well- which is so nice because really good narrators are rare. He doesn't just read the book- he tells the story. If you are affected by animal welfare- it is hard to listen to how the fish are treated- but it's not gratuitous, it really is what happens in the industry so you might have to power through that if you're sensitive (like me).