The Remains of the Day

To me, this book was not just about repression of emotions, but deeply ingrained classism. The main character, Mr. Stevens, is the head butler of a distinguished household, first to a distinguished (or is he?) English gentleman, then to a rich American who buys the property after the previous Lord's death. Throughout it all, Stevens is there, serving his lord's every whim and need. The house has become his world, what lies beyond the house ceases to exist, only the day to day functioning of the house is of importance. Stevens' own life is of little consequence, his emotions are never to be acknowledged, except when he allows himself to feel dignity in his work and accomplishments in the running of the house. The lord is the only person show more capable of, and worthy of having thoughts about the world, and how it is run. Stevens, and those of his class or even below his, are not capable of having thoughts about the world, and why should they? They should seek contentment in their own lives in the little ways in which they can contribute, and nothing more. It shows just how deeply this sort of classism is ingrained in his thoughts and the way he lives his life. I ultimately found Stevens to be a deeply tragic character. He never lets himself feel emotions, and by the end, he regrets how he spent his life. He lives much of it in denial, probably because if he thought about who his employer actually is and what kind of things he has done, he would face a crisis within himself. Its not his place to question, so why bother to think about why his boss is consorting with fascists? The book was written very subtly and beautifully, and was very moving. I can see why it won the Booker prize. show less

It is sometimes said that butlers only truly exist in England. Other countries, whatever title is actually used, have only manservants. I tend to believe this is true. Continentals are unable to be butlers because they are as a breed incapable of emotional restraint which only the English race are capable of. (p. 43)

Thus does Stevens, a butler on a fine English estate, describe the dignity and restraint he sees as essential elements of the truly great butlers -- a title he will not allow himself to claim, although it is probably deserved. Stevens spent 30 years in service at Darlington Hall, beginning in the 1920s. He did all his master asked of him, with complete decorum and the much-admired restraint. He was assisted by a housekeeper, show more Miss Kenton, who left after many years to marry and have a family of her own. The novel begins with Stevens taking a rare holiday, a trip across the country to visit Miss Kenton. A recent letter from her led him to believe she would be interested in returning to service at Darlington Hall. The letter resurrected memories and emotions; long suppressed in the interest of dignity and restraint. During Stevens' journey, he relives his years serving Lord Darlington, and his relationship with Miss Kenton.

The story is told entirely in Stevens' voice. Ishiguro has a way of making the situation perfectly plain to the reader, even though much is left unsaid. The reader sees a side of Lord Darlington that Stevens himself was unable to acknowledge. And his feelings for Miss Kenton are crystal clear, even though they never break through his reserved exterior. I nearly cried when he and Miss Kenton parted company the first time, and their reunion was heavily laden with missed opportunity and dashed hopes that once again were quite moving.

I was worried that this book would be spoiled by having seen the film many years ago. And while I couldn't help envisioning Stevens just as he was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins, I still found myself immersed in this book as if experiencing the story for the first time. Wonderful, emotional, reading. show less

Like his father before him, Stevens is a butler, a career chosen for service and dedication to the highest in the land. Working for Lord Darlington in between the World Wars, he offered loyalty and discretion as various high-powered guests met to discuss the increasing perilous situation in Europe.

Post war the social landscape has changed dramatically. Stevens is still the butler at Darlington Hall, but his master is now a rich American, Mr Farraday. Stevens is encouraged by him to take a brief break, and offers to lend him his car for a motoring holiday. It is ideal timing as Stevens has recently received a letter from a past colleague, Miss Kenton, and sees it as an ideal opportunity to pay her a visit. As he travels through Wilshire, show more Dorset, Devon and Cornwall enjoying the sights and countryside he takes time to consider various matters; his service to Lord Darlington, the relationship that he had with his father and his housekeeper.

It is a melancholy story, full of subtlety whilst still having profound meaning and depth. The main character, Stevens, is the quintessentially English butler, composed and proficient; but whilst he can say the right words he lacks feeling and empathy because of his upbringing and career. I am not sure just how he does it, but Ishiguro has managed to capture the class distinctions perfectly in this book. Possibly because he has an outsider’s perspective on how society at the time functioned, or didn’t, and understands the minutia and restraint that a member of the household has to have whilst dealing with the great and the good. It is equally about what isn’t said and happens between the two main characters as it is about what actually happens, and it is impressive just how much emotion can be wrung out of such restrained prose. Good stuff. show less

This is one of the most subtle books I have read. It grows gently to what was a profound ending and it was not until then that the meaning of the title became clear! A book that develops with amazing writing skill.
Mr Stevens has worked as a butler in Darlington House for some 30 odd years. He has just been advised that he and the remaining staff can take a few days holiday by the new owner Mr Farraday, an American. He decides on a trip to the west of England which will lead him to call on Mrs Benn, previously Miss Kenton, a former employee of Darlington House. As he drives his mind is firmly in the past. He describes a lifestyle that is no longer and contemplates what it is to be a butler and in fact, a great butler. The reader is shown show more a view of the diplomatic politicing, sometimes misguided, in pre-war Europe. In th background we gradually gain an image of the relationship between Mr Stevens and Miss Kenton. The dignified restraint verging on pomposity shown by Mr Stevens in his dealings with her and all the characters in this story, in an attempt to emulate the best in his profession, his father included leads him to realise that he could have had a different life. He determines to make more effort to connect with his employer by entering into light-hearted banter.
A passage that I savoured was his fresh observetion of the English landscape, which he thought was best summed up by the word greatness - 'I would say that it is the very lack of obvious drama or spectacle that sets the beauty of our land apart. What is pertinent is the calmness of that beauty, its sense of restraint. It is as though the land knows of its own beauty, of its own greatness and feels no need to shout it. In comparison, the sorts of sights offered in such places as Africa and America, though undoubtedly very exciting, would , I am sure, strike the objective viewer as inferior on account of their unseemly demonstrativeness.' I delighted in such passages which gave me pause for thought and there are similar passages on what it is to be a true gentleman. This book is so very English! Superb. 9.5 show less

Masterpiece. Taut, fastidious, and crushingly sad, Ishiguro manages to both inhabit and examine British-ness through his highly elided narrator. In the impossible way of things, this is a book about emotions while barely mentioning them, how to reveal by concealing, and human-ness (writ large) expressed by exacting historical and cultural detail. A real heart-breaker. Worth it for the banter.

I had seen the wonderful movie with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson -- must be 20 years ago. In spite of getting the usual process backwards, it did not stop me from enjoying this book at all. I think it might have gently enhanced it, actually, imagining much of Stevens' voice as if it were spoken by the indomitable Hopkins and imagining Miss Kenton having a crooked smile like Thompson.

Ishiguro has a deft, precise hand. I loved thinking the thoughts he wanted me to think, to read between the lines he wanted me to read, and to care deeply for a stuffy old butler whose only quirk is being a stuffy old butler through and through. Well, almost. And it's that slowly building, perfectly executed "almost" that makes the story something special.

To me, a modern classic. This is that rare book that is enjoyable to read but also deeply felt and moving. The writing is brilliant, with an unreliable and deeply closed off narrator who the reader is moved to care about and even pity. The novel touches on the political issue of Britain's flirtation with fascism, but it is deeply concerned with the personal issues of subjectivity, responsibility, respectability and the alienation of the self. Very thought-provoking and beautiful.