The Remains of the Day

The 1989 British historical novel by Kazuo Ishiguro tells the story of Stevens, an English butler who has dedicated his life to service at Darlington Hall, a stately home near Oxford. In 1956, after receiving a letter from former housekeeper Miss Kenton, now Mrs. Benn, he embarks on a journey during which he reflects on events from the 1920s and 1930s. Stevens contemplates his unwavering loyalty to Lord Darlington, whose sympathies toward Nazi Germany he begins to question, and his unspoken feelings for Miss Kenton. Their reunion, during which Mrs. Benn admits to occasional doubts about her choices, leads Stevens to recognize missed opportunities and reevaluate a life spent suppressing emotions in the name of professionalism. The novel delves into themes of dignity, loyalty, love, and regret, as well as the transformation of British society in the post-World War II era.