When We Were Orphans

When We Were Orphans is a novel by distinguished Japanese-British writer Kazuo Ishiguro, originally published in the UK in 2000. Set largely in England and Shanghai of the 1930s, the historical novel is structurally adventurous with elements of detective fiction. The plot deals with the childhood memories and the present detective work of a man in search of his missing parents, while painting a large canvass of the social systems in China and the UK during the first half of the 20th century. The book was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize in the UK.

Kazuo Ishiguro (1954-) is one of the pre-eminent writers in the English language and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2017. He has published eight novels and numerous short stories. Born in Nagasaki, Japan, to Japanese parents, he moved to the UK when he was 5 years old. His works deal with concepts of memory, social class, history, political intrigue, and philosophy. He is also the winner of a Booker Prize, the American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plaque, and has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to literature.

The edition of the novel used for this study guide is by Faber and Faber, published in the UK in 2001.