Set in post world war two Britain, the style and content of this novel betray little of Ishiguro's culture and background. Ishiguro was born in 1954 in Nagasaki, Japan, but immigrated to England when he was five. Although his first two novels deal with characters in Japan following world war two, in "Remains of the Day" he turns to the quintessential English culture of the landed gentry and the demise of a way of life epitomised by the central character Stevens, a butler.
The story is one of regret. Stevens devoted his life to Lord Darlington of Darlington Hall and within his own world was proud of this achievement. His devotion, however, prevented him pursuing happiness. The story tracks Stevens' trip to visit Miss Kenton, a former housekeeper at Darlington Hall. Much to Stevens’ consternation, Miss Kenton reveals that her life "may have turned out better" had she married Stevens. Their mutual love is never explicit, however.
Lord Darlington was an appeaser to Hitler and arranged and hosted dinner parties between the German and British heads of state to allow a forum for mutual understanding. We must remember that, at the time, appeasement was the popular stance, and it was Churchill who stood largely alone in advocating war with Germany. However, Stevens’ regrets extend to his being part of a view which later was regarded as at least mildly treacherous.
In this wonderfully understated novel, the reader is left to interpret what is at the back of Stevens’ mind. He never states his regrets explicitly nor discusses the meaning of regret. By the end of the novel, it is of course far too late to change what has happened. Stevens has devoted his life to someone of now questionable morals (Lord Darlington) and missed the opportunity of happiness with Miss Kenton. All that remains is for him to perfect his skills at bantering with his new employer, Mr Farraday.
Trevor Smith Aug 2005
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/remains/