About: Kazuo Ishiguro: The Remains of the Day

Abstract or Introduction

"The Remains of the Day", winner of the 1989 Booker Prize, was written by Kazuo Ishiguro in 1989.
Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki , Japan, on November 8, 1954. At the age of five he came to Great Britain, were he had a typical English upbringing with an immersion in Japanese culture and language. Ishiguro has gained a reputation as one of the finest British writers. "His fiction deals broadly with themes of self-deception, truth and the clash of public and private images of his characters. He reworks the images which people have both of themselves and of their historical background. He situates his work firmly in the inner world of his characters and often avoids much overt plot construction."

While set technically in the present, most of the novel takes place in a sequence of reminiscences in the past. The book tells the story of an old man who takes a trip across England to the sea. His name is Stevens, and he had been the head butler at Darlington Hall, a famous country house, for many years. He is going to visit a woman, he has not seen in a long time: Miss Kenton, who was once the housekeeper at Darlington Hall. He thinks perhaps she can be persuaded to resume her old position under the hall′s new owner, a retired American Congressman. Along his way to the sea, in flashback, we see his memories of the great days at Darlington Hall, when Lord Darlington played host to the world′s leaders.

The work gives you an analysis of the major parts of the book, including characterisation and development of Mr. Stevens, history in "The Remains of the Day" and structure and presentation of narrative notes.