Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (1989) — novel #253

The Remains of the Day — One might say, if one considers oneself an astute and worthy judge, that this is a most dignified novel. Indeed.

• by Kazuo Ishiguro
• Postmodern, British novel
• Published: 1989
• My edition: Vintage Books (eBook)
• Setting: England, 1957
• Also by this author (that I’ve read): Never Let Me Go

Mr. Stevens is the butler at Darlington Hall, a fictitious estate near Oxford, where he has served for decades, first to Lord Darlington, and now to the new American owner Mr. Farraday. It will help, should you read this, to envision Anthony Hopkins as Mr. Stevens the first-person narrator. First person, though Mr. Stevens often refers to himself in third person, ‘oneself’, very dignified, all that. Indeed Mr. Stevens considers dignity the preeminent quality that “separates a great butler from a merely competent one.”

 

Mr. Stevens has devoted extensive thought on this subject. And while he agrees with the position of the Quarterly of the Gentleman’s Gentleman, that…

…the most critical criterion is that the applicant be possessed of a dignity in keeping with his position.

He has some of his own opinions as well.

A ‘great’ butler can only be, surely, one who can point to his years of service and say that he has applied his talents to serving a great gentleman—and through the latter, to serving humanity.

There is apparently an unofficial Hall of Fame for English butlers. At least, there is a consensus among those in the profession of who the greats are. Mr. Stevens refers to a couple of these luminaries on more than one occasion as the well-known and indisputable standards of greatness. It is clear that Mr. Stevens aspires to this level of excellence and indeed, considers himself not far from this stratum.

 

Minor spoiler alert: Although it is not apparent at first, Mr. Stevens is an unreliable narrator. In the beginning, he expresses himself with such dignity and conviction, the reader has no reason to doubt his truthfulness or wisdom. But slowly, very slowly it becomes apparent that Mr. Stevens is perhaps deluding himself. And maybe, at some level, he is painfully aware of his own delusion. This was a brilliant part of the novel for me. Some authors hit you with surprise twists without warning, but Ishiguro lets it creep up on the reader, along with the changing sympathies it brings. It is a masterful tale with themes of dignity, loyalty, and self-perception.

 

It isn’t exactly action-packed. It could be alternately titled, The Butler’s Holiday, and I would be tempted to pass it by. Well, truthfully I have—for years. But now that I’ve read it, I certainly appreciate it.

 

My rating  4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Speaking of the title, it comes from the observations of an unnamed fellow domestic that Mr. Stevens meets, while sitting by the sea shore near sundown. The gentleman remarks…

You’ve got to enjoy yourself. The evening’s the best part of the day.

I think I enjoyed this a bit more than Never Let Me Go also by Ishiguro. Have you read The Remains of the Day? Ishiguro? What else would you recommend by Ishiguro or by other authors with similar themes?

 

A few other amusing excerpts, all the opinions of Mr. Stevens.

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 the emotional restraint which only the English race are capable of.

The butler’s pantry, as far as I am concerned, is a crucial office, the heart of the house’s operations, not unlike a general’s headquarters during a battle...

After Stevens makes an attempt at  'banter', a skill he convinces himself he must learn for interacting with the new American master of Darlington Hall... 

I followed this with a suitably modest smile to indicate without ambiguity that I had made a witticism, since I did not wish Mr. Farrady to restrain any spontaneous mirth he felt out of a misplaced respectfulness.

 It didn't work.

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