Kazuo Ishiguro's "The Remains of the Day" -- What is the novel ultimately about? A review of the book reviews for this novel reveals differing opinions on the character of Stevens.

Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day can be viewed less as a narrative story than as a long character study. The main character of Stevens, the butler of Darlington Hall, acts not only as the narrator of the story but the focal point. Through him we learn about the strictly-regimented life of the English servant class, and the almost cultish social implications associated with holding the position in a household which Stevens has acquired. …

…rtin, Valerie. "The Year in Fiction, 1989" Massachusetts Review,Spring/Summer 1990 Vol. 31 Issue 1/2, p257. Accessed online 2/19/04 at: < http://0-search.epnet.com.clark.up.edu:80/direct.asp?an=9610090259&db=aph> McPherson, James Alan. "Bookshelf". Ploughshares, Winter 90/91 Vol. 16 Issue 4, p 282. Accessed online 2/19/04 at: <http://0-search.epnet.com.clark.up.edu:80/direct.asp?an=9608216332&db=aph> Slay Jr., Jack. "Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day". Explicator, Spring 1997 Vol. 55 Issue 3, p 180. Accessed online 2/19/04 at: