• The Remains of the Day

  • By: Kazuo Ishiguro
  • Narrated by: Dominic West
  • Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (355 ratings)

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The Remains of the Day  By  cover art

The Remains of the Day

By: Kazuo Ishiguro
Narrated by: Dominic West
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Publisher's summary

From the winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature

A contemporary classic, The Remains of the Day is Kazuo Ishiguro's beautiful and haunting evocation of life between the wars in a Great English House. In the summer of 1956, Stevens, the ageing butler of Darlington Hall, embarks on a leisurely holiday that will take him deep into the countryside - and into his past.

©2012 Kazuo Ishiguro (P)2012 Faber & Faber

What listeners say about The Remains of the Day

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Beautiful

I'd seen the movie - a long time ago - but had never read the book.

It is simply & beautifully told. Stevens sets out on a road trip in his employer's car for a week. The week is filled with reverie of his life over 30 years as butler to a great household & his relationship with former housekeeper Miss Kenton.

Stevens' focus throughout his career has been on dignity within his role as butler & we become aware what he has sacrificed to achieve & maintain this goal. He too seems to become aware & regrets the impact the sacrifice this focus has had on his relationship with his father & also his potential love interest.

Stevens' character is well crafted, the story is a moving one of a life when the large English houses were the hub of political activity. It is wonderfully told & narrated.

Stevens weighs his regrets but resolves to enjoy the remains of "his day".

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5 people found this helpful

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Marvelous

The remains of the day is without a doubt one of the best pieces of literature from the 20th century.

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1 person found this helpful

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Wow, what a story.

This book moved me to my inner core. It made me think about life and the choices I made in a new and brighter light. No wonder Ishiguro won the nobel prize, it was well deserved.

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1 person found this helpful

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Great book and reading.

An almost Victorian novel in style and character. I love the way it was set.

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brilliant writing and narration

My brother recommended this book as his all time favourite. I listened to the wonderful narration by Dominic west and I can understand why he loved it so much. my brother has read the book and I am sure he will love this version even more.

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This novel works at lots of levels.

i immensely enjoyed this book. The reader is perfect. It shows a slice of history undergoing change. The author show the foibles of human nature with care and gentleness. Very touching. Clever. Satisfying.

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Perfect

I loved it! The story is really great, the performance of the narrator is top range. I highly recommend it.

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There is a gentleness and sadness in the writing

Would you consider the audio edition of The Remains of the Day to be better than the print version?

I originally thought the narrative voice was too young but as the story progressed, his voice took on the gentle quality of the writing and his tone was just right. Sometimes, words need to be spoken aloud to appreciate the lyrical quality. This had a gentleness and a deep sense of loss.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Remains of the Day?

The use of the journey to tell the stories about his life as a butler, his loyalties to his father and his ignorance in love.

What about Dominic West’s performance did you like?

Originally I thought his voice was too young but in the end I felt he had read the story with the poignancy it required.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, this is a book that takes time, it is a journey.

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A most dignified read.

One would wish to compliment the author, on performing his writing duties, with such considerable skill as to delight the reader!

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So well written

An excellent character portrayal of a man trying to come to terms with a world that has vastly changed from the one he once knew.

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