Listen free for 30 days

  • The Remains of the Day

  • Written by: Kazuo Ishiguro
  • Narrated by: Dominic West
  • Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (287 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Remains of the Day cover art

The Remains of the Day

Written by: Kazuo Ishiguro
Narrated by: Dominic West
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $33.34

Buy Now for $33.34

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Kazuo Ishiguro's Booker Prize-winning masterpiece became an international bestseller on publication, was adapted into an award-winning film and has since come to be regarded as a modern classic.

The Remains of the Day is a spellbinding portrayal of a vanished way of life and a haunting meditation on the high cost of duty. It is also one of the most subtle, sad and humorous love stories ever written. It is the summer of 1956, when Stevens, a man who has dedicated himself to his career as a perfect butler in the one-time great house of Darlington Hall, sets off on a holiday that will take him deep into the English countryside and, unexpectedly, into his own past, especially his friendship with the housekeeper, Miss Kenton. As memories surface of his lifetime "in service" to Lord Darlington, and of his life between the wars, when the fate of the continent seemed to lie in the hands of a few men, he finds himself confronting the dark undercurrent beneath the carefully run world of his employer.

©1989 Kazuo Ishiguro (P)2018 Vintage Canada

What the critics say

“This is a work that goes to the heart of a lost life. Beautifully composed, totally unsentimental, immeasurably tender.” (Harold Pinter, The Observer)

“Apart from being suspenseful, intriguing, elegiac and politically astute, this is also the funniest novel I've read in ages.... Both subtle and humane.... Simply read it for pleasure, and be richly rewarded.” (Jonathan Coe, The Guardian)

“A perfect novel. I couldn't put it down.” (Ann Beattie)

“Marvellous.... Superb.” (The Globe and Mail)

“Brilliant.... A story both beautiful and cruel.” (Salman Rushdie, The Observer)

What listeners say about The Remains of the Day

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    200
  • 4 Stars
    62
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    221
  • 4 Stars
    30
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    167
  • 4 Stars
    59
  • 3 Stars
    23
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Quietly compelling

This novel is essentially the literary equivalent of a contemplative sigh breathed onto a rainy window, and I don't mean that as a critique. It's calm, understated, and reflective in an immensely enjoyable way. It's also a compelling exploration of the national character of Britain and the nature of 'dignity'. The Remains of the Day isn't obtuse or intentionally difficult to read, but it also isn't lacking in depth.

Dominic West does a fine job narrating. My only small quibble is that West's narration didn't quite convey the right sense of age. The narrator is meant to be an elderly man, but West doesn't really express this in his reading. Ultimately though, this detracts very little from the overall experience.

Ishiguro is an immensely gifted author and this book is a treasure.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Ishiguro is a master of subtlety

Re-listened after a few years. As exceptional as I remember. Narrator reads in such a way as to portray a deeply sympathetic and even tender portrayal of the main character. I am sure I'll return to this title even more times in the future.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect narrator for a perfect book

It’s been 24 hours since I finished this audiobook and I am still absorbing it. It is absolutely wonderful. I have read Never Let Me Go and I am astonished it is the same author as each is brilliant but the genres could not be more different. The narration is perfect. I’m struggling with what to write because words do not do this novel and narration justice. It is exceptional and worth every accolade it has been given.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Gobsmacking

Dominic West is note-perfect in his reading of Ishiguro’s letter-perfect story about a self-deluded butler’s journey across the country to regain what he hopes will be something he thinks might be love. As usual, he’s wrong. About himself, his place, his master, his life, his system. Is the story brilliant? Who cares? A savage critique dressed in the finest attire.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Beautiful and Poignant Read

The Remains of the Day is absolutely brilliant. A masterpiece. This is the kind of book that you feel sad when it ends. It is the kind of book you are happy to share but kind of jealous that you can’t read it again for the first time. Bravo Kazuo Ishiguro. Bravo Dominic West.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Masterpiece

The book is rich and deep with memory and meaning. A look back on a life lived. Dominic West does a superb job narrating. So happy to have this audio version.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Scattered story

It’s a story told through the eyes of a butler. Not sure what was the theme of the story. But it was somewhat enjoyable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Book

A beautiful piece of writing. I loved the book and the narration was fantastic! I plan to read more of Mister Ishiguro’s work.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • SD
  • 2022-06-27

Excellent

A beautiful and sad story. Very affecting. Dominic West’s narration is superb. It took a little while to get into the story, but by chapter 3 I was completely hooked.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great performance

The actor takes the character and the story to a whole other level. We’ll done!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!