1. English 1057 The Remains of the Day (1988)

2. Kazuo Ishiguro (1954-) Father was an oceanographer
Born in Nagasaki; moved to England at age five
Educated in Kent, East Anglia
First novel 1982; seven in total so far
Feels he has a very “mixed” cultural identity which is neither strongly Japanese nor English

3. Themes in his novels
Ishiguro’s novels tend to have a strong post-modern style
Time is jumbled and narration cuts back and forth
Things aren’t clear; reality is inconsistent and subjective
Bad memories are repressed and denied but “bubble up”
E.g. Etsuko’s repression of memory after the bombings of Nagasaki

4. The Remains of the Day (1989)
Ishiguro’s third novel
Highly regarded and praised; winner of the Man Booker Prize in 1989
Film adaption with Anthony Hopkins (1993)

5. Themes A butler’s “dignity” and social constraints
Loyalty and politics: Stevens defends his (Nazi?) employer, Lord Darlington
Love and duty: Stevens does not respond to Miss Kenton’s emotions or to his father
Memory: Stevens remembers in fragments. Are these memories consistent? How do they change?
Themes