The Remains of the Day

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

By: Kazuo Ishiguro

Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith

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.

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

“A perfect novel. I couldn’t put it down.” —Ann Beattie

“The novel rests firmly on the narrative sophistication and flawless control of tone ... of a most impressive novelist.” —Julian Barnes

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.

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.

Remains of the day.

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

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!!!!

Fantastic Read and Reader

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