Required “which only the English race is capable of.” Lord Darlington says the

Stevens tells us authoritatively that ‘Continentals’ and ‘Celts’ are unable toīe butlers because as a breed they are incapable of the emotional restraint Laughed out loud at the superior air I suspect was prevalent at that time, when Unquestioning and total, despite Darlington being a Nazi sympathiser and, briefly, It also explains why his loyalty towards his master Lord Darlington is Housekeeper Miss Kenton and why he feels unable to spend time with his dyingįather (guests might require him to be available to serve port at any moment). Professionalism explains why he finds it impossible to express his love for the Their professional role… to the utmost they will not be shaken out by externalĮvents, however surprising, alarming or vexing…’ This obsession with He carries: ‘the great butlers are great by virtue of their ability to inhabit He asserts he must never abandon the professional persona Lifelong ambition is to be a truly great butler, having ‘dignity in keeping On his life during a six day period in July 1956 and Ishiguro admirablyĬaptures what I imagine was the essence, the atmosphere and the way of life in

Story is told through the eyes of Stevens, an ageing butler, as he looks back Move, are all meticulously observed and this attention to detail sparks the The narrative is cut to theīone no padding, nothing is wasted. The writing is precise, nuanced, wonderfully evocative Ĭharacterisation is beautiful, exacting, studied. Review cannot do justice to this flawless creation I felt genuinely sorry on Is the closest to perfection in a novel I have ever come across and a 500 word

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