The Remains of the Day

By: Kazuo Ishiguro

Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

BOOKER PRIZE WINNER • From the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, here is “an intricate and dazzling novel” (The New York Times) about the perfect butler and his fading, insular world in post-World War II England.

This is Kazuo Ishiguro's profoundly compelling portrait of a butler named Stevens. Stevens, at the end of three decades of service at Darlington Hall, spending a day on a country drive, embarks as well on a journey through the past in an effort to reassure himself that he has served humanity by serving the "great gentleman," Lord Darlington. But lurking in his memory are doubts about the true nature of Lord Darlington's "greatness," and much graver doubts about the nature of his own life.

©2010 Kazuo Ishiguro (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

WINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE • WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE • A PARADE BEST BOOK OF ALL TIME

“An intricate and dazzling novel.” —The New York Times

“Brilliant and quietly devastating.” —Newsweek

"A perfect novel. I couldn’t put it down." (Ann Beattie)

“A virtuoso performance ... put on with dazzling daring and aplomb.” —The New York Review of Books

Hear it at 1.3 speed

I know the character is an older, parsimonious, man but the reader exaggerates this aspect so much that is ludicrous how terribly slow he reads. It reminds me of the sloth character voice in Zootopia.
I had to read the book at a 1.3 speed (sometimes 1.5!) and it sounded perfectly normal.
Other than that, this is the second book of Izaguro I read and, well, it’s beautiful and sad though nothing really, really happens.

Remains of the day.

Good read- enjoyed very much-needed - sorry to come to end - may read again

The Narration is worth the Credit

An amazingly well read reflection on life itself....what does it mean to live, to be true to one's duty and ideals. The longer I listened, the more I enjoyed. Both heartbreaking and illuminating, it is well worth your time.

Fantastic Read and Reader

A classic read really well performed. The book is finished, but the thinking goes on.

A True JOY!!!

From first syllable to last, I enjoyed every bit of this experience. The book of course by Kazuo Ishiguro is one to behold in every sense of the world the pride, the ache, the tangible expressions, the heartbreaks at more times than one experienced by the protagonist Mr Stevens all invoke a sense of the sheer magic of the written word.
But then only elevated by the splendid reading by Mr Nicholas Guy Smith. You sir are a MASTER. I would listen to any phone book if it were read by you.
Thank you!!!!

Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way.,,

At times you really dislike Stevens, at times you really feel for him. An emotionally closed off man who reminisces about his life and realizes the mistakes he’s made. In the end, he realizes what matters is what to do with the remains of his life. Very touching story.

Poignant but not fast paced

Often times it was frustrating and painful to listen to how reserved and unemotional the main character was but that was precisely a big part of the character and the story. It is interesting to hear a story from the point of the servant instead of the aristocrat. At the end everything was true to character and poignantly philosophical. I enjoyed the book.

Warm and bantering story

Warm and bantering story that I spend 2 days long straight. Can’t wait to watch the movie this weekends.

Brilliant poke

Brilliant poke at aristocratic ash. Great writing (and reading). Well done as always - totally recommend

Amazing work!

Subtle, ironic, delicate writing style. The reader is perfect too. One of Ishiguro’s best works.