There's something charming about the old English country and its customs. This book is about an English butler who reminisces about the old times while attempting to keep pace with the new. Back in the day, butlers were at the top of the staff heirarchy that catered to the needs of the aristocratic class. Lords, Ladies, Dukes, Duchess, Barons, etc would all be given top of the notch service by an army of staff who attended to their every need. The houses of ole were big mansions, almost palacial in size and thus needed several housemaids, under-butler, footmen, gardener, chauffeur, valet, cook etc to keep pace with the then life. One such princely house was Darlington Hall, where our butler Mr. Stevens used to serve Lord Darlington himself.
Then came the war years that changed the way of life of the aristocrats as well as those whom they employed. An American gentleman takes over Darlington Hall after the death of its previous owner, and the butler, loyal to his profession, decides to stay on with the house. He narrates the changes that the household undergoes, constantly comparing Then and Now. He is a man of ideals and succinctly discusses what he thinks are the attributes of a great butler.
At the heart of the book, it is about how Mr. Stevens comes to terms with the past and has to accept that he must make the most of whatever remains of the days of his life. I found it a very inspiring read, and can see what made Kazuo Ishiguro a Nobel Prize in Literature awardee. Very polished style of writing that one can only aspire to inculcate. I have definitely become a fan of the author and will be reading more of his works soon.
For fans of Downton Abbey, this book is a treat to read. One can just imagine Mr. Carson agreeing with the views of Mr. Stevens while sipping on some tea downstairs. The book has also been adapted into a movie starring Anthony Hopkins in the lead role. I can't say it's the best of adaptations but at least there is one.
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