Prologue: Darlington Hall 9, July 1956
First evening Salisbury 33
Salisbury 64 on the second morning
Day 2, afternoon, Mortimer Pond, Dorset 153
Day 3, morning, Taunton, Somerset 172
Moscombe 189, near Tavistock, Devon, evening of the third day
Day Four, Afternoon, Little Compton, Cornwall 269
Weymouth 302, evening of the sixth day
Commentary on the work 323
Author's Chronology 331

“You have to live happily.
Evening is the best time of the day.
(......)
No, if you ask anyone, they'll tell you the same thing.

“The best time of day is evening.”

Representative works of Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro
The Booker Prize-winning work has been translated into over 20 languages ​​worldwide.

The Remains of the Day is a fantastic novel.
The way it delves deeply and poignantly into humanity, class, and culture is almost magical.

- [New York Times Book Review]
“The Remains of the Day” is a victory… … .
This compelling portrait of a human life, as if it were a living memory, is imbued with originality, a thrilling interplay of humor and absurdity, and ultimately, a profound emotion.

- [The Sunday Times]
A writer who connects humanity and the world through the great emotional power of the novel, and who has unearthed the abyss buried beneath its fantastical sensibility.

- Reasons for selection for the [Nobel Prize in Literature]


■ A sad self-portrait of a modern man, set in a 1930s British manor
- What do professionals live on?

“I served him at Darlington Hall for many years, and I was able to get as close to the center of the wheel of the world as I could ever dream of.
“I have devoted thirty-five years to Lord Darlington.”

It's the summer of 1956, and Stevens, who has spent his entire life as a butler at Darlington Hall, sets out on his first trip of his life, reflecting on his past, when he did his best to become a 'great butler'.
Lord Darlington, the gentleman he had served for thirty-five years, was a central figure in the world of high society, presiding over informal meetings in secret rooms and influencing foreign policy, and Stevens felt a secret satisfaction in being in touch with the center of the world through his duties as his butler, who served him like a shadow.
But one day, Lord Darlington, who was once respected by the world, falls from social standing with the stigma of being a Nazi supporter, and Stevens' career begins to take a hit.
Stevens, who already boasted of blind devotion beyond respect for his master, could not help but believe that Lord Darlington possessed perfect morals.
Because he had been devoted to his work as a butler his entire life, he was unable to be present for his father's deathbed and had to send off the woman he loved. For him, the world that Darlington Hall symbolizes is not just 'work', but 'life' itself.
Stevens constantly tries to justify the past by asserting his belief that being a 'great butler' is ultimately determined by how many 'great masters' one has met.

This work tells the story of a very limited space called Darlington Hall, but at the same time, it dramatically depicts the turbulent world situation between the two world wars by intersecting the perspectives of Stevens, who protects this space, and the numerous politicians who visit.
It also vividly reveals how absurd it is to be bound by anachronistic values ​​in a time of change, as the old-fashioned British Empire's way of thinking gives way to America's realistic foundation.
The self-sacrificing professional attitude and craftsmanship that Stevens stubbornly tried to maintain are symbolized as a 'remnant of an era' that is too closed off to accept new changes.
In this respect, Stevens' life may be a sad self-portrait of modern man.
“A very delightful and yet the saddest book I can remember.” (Doris Lessing), “A masterpiece that combines beauty and poignancy.” (Salman Rushdie), “A remarkable work in every way: story, style, and quality.” (Maxine Hong Kingston) and many other contemporary writers have also been generous in their praise for this work.


■ About love and its futility realized in the twilight of life

“Tell me, Mr. Stevens.
Why, why, why do you always have to live like that, ‘pretending not to know’?

This novel, which is also the original work of director James Ivory's film "The Remains of the Day" (1993), once again became a hot topic as a love story realized at dusk, with British actors Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson playing Stevens and Kenton.
Stevens's trip was partly due to his new owner's recommendation, but there was another reason.
Long ago, I met Miss Kenton, who worked with me as a secretary at Darlington Hall during its heyday.
Receiving a sudden letter from her, still 'Miss' Kenton to him, he is led to believe that she wishes to return to Darlington Hall and is waiting for him to make her such an offer.
Throughout the six-day journey, Stevens reminisces about the past, reciting line by line the letters he received from the woman who was special to him.
Miss Kenton actively approached Stevens, and Stevens also had personal feelings for her, but he tried to ignore his feelings in order to remain faithful to his job as a butler.
Ultimately, she fails to win his heart and ends up marrying another man.
Twenty years later, his approaching her to propose working together is simply another example of his way of life, where he hides his feelings and prioritizes public affairs.
But now, in my twilight years, I realize that I truly loved her during the brief time we worked together during the heyday of Darlington Hall.
But even when he reunites with her, he sends her away once again, keeping what he truly wanted to say buried in his heart.
In his youth, he built his own stronghold, neglecting even love in order to do his best at his job. In his twilight years, he realizes this and is heartbroken, but he has no choice but to accept the reality that has changed with the passage of time. Through Stevens, the reader may suffer from the fever of a past love.