The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

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The remains of the Day
Kazuo Ishiguro
Read Oct 2017


 This is the first of Kazuo’s book I read. The main character, a butler named James, gave a lengthy account of his service for his master Lord Darlington in typical upper class British butler speak.

James is devoted to Lord Darlington, his previous master, who is well known in the political circles in England. After Darlington’s passing, James serves a new American master in the same stately home. However, under the ‘new management’, the place is just a shadow of its former glory.

James is very proud of his professional pedigree and maintains an exacting standard in his job. He is so consumed by his devotion to his work that even when his elderly father lay dying in his room, James prioritized the political meeting that was hosted by his master over his father. The father died that night and James maintained a stoic front, insisting that the father would have preferred him to keep up to his code of practice.

Certain events unfolded , like an onion, and we get to realized that housekeeper Ms Kenton had a soft spot for James but her love was unrequited by the thick headed James. Ms Kenton married and left her job. James in his professional behavior did not retain her. It was only 20 years later that he realized Ms Kenton held a torch for her even after her marriage. Certain snipplets showed James had a tinge of regret but tried to brush it aside in his usual stoic manner.

The end of the story revealed that Lord Darlington was a Nazi sympathizer and died in disgrace. This explained why he did not reveal his previous employer to the guest of his new boss.

Ishiguro is able to tell the story true the butler in the manner of a typical upper class butler. The sentences are lengthy but colorful and at times funny. I had an inkling that Ms Kenton liked James but it was helpful that she revealed it to James when they met near the end of the book. It also sets me thinking what is most important in life, a professional reputation or your relationship with those around us. It also begs the question of how you should handle your relationship with your boss if he is not in the same political chapter as me ( though James insisted he knew nothing and thought nothing about it ).



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