The Remains of the Day

The Remains of the Day is a novel by British writer Kazuo Ishiguro. Released in 1989, the novel tells the story of Stevens, who once worked as a butler at a stately home in England. In his old age, he returns to the house and reminisces about his experiences in the 1920-1930s. Most of the novel is told in flashback. The novel was adapted into a critically-acclaimed film of the same name, released in 1993. Other works by Ishiguro include When We Were Orphans and Klara and the Sun.

Plot Summary

Stevens is now an old man. He spent most of his life in service to a British aristocrat named Lord Darlington, for whom he worked as a butler for more than 30 years. Following Lord Darlington’s death, he works for an American businessman, Mr. Farraday, who bought the estate. In July 1956, Stevens receives a letter from a former coworker named Miss Kenton. Miss Kenton worked at Darlington Hall alongside Stevens, who now believes that her letter hints at problems in her marriage. Stevens’s time as Lord Darlington’s butler was defined by his unwavering loyalty to his employer and his rigid adherence to the social rules and manners, as defined by the British social class system.