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Description edit see section history

The story of Etsuko, a Japanese woman now living alone in England, dwelling on the recent suicide of her daughter. In a story where past and present confuse, she relives scenes of Japan's devastation in the wake of World War II.

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Characters/People edit see section history

  • Sachiko: Mysterious woman who Etsuko meets while living in Nagasaki; mother of Mariko.
  • Mariko: Sachiko's introverted daughter.
  • Etsuko: The protagonist and narrator. A Japanese emigrant, Etsuko narrates the story from England as a reminiscence during a visit from her younger daughter, Niki.
  • Jiro: Etsuko's husband in Japan.
  • Mrs Fujiwara: A widowed woman who owns a noodle shop in Nagasaki.
  • Niki: Etsuko's youngest daughter, born in England; her father is not Japanese.
  • Akira: Add a description of this character.
  • Shigeo Matsuda: An old friend of Jiro's who has offended Jiro's father by writing negatively about the former Japanese ways before WWII.
  • Ogata: Jiro's father who visit to Jiro and Etsuko's home plays a key role in the narrative.
  • Kazuo
  • Dr Endo: A former colleague of Ogata.
  • Frank: An American who promises to take Sachiko and Mariko to America.
  • Kuroda
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Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 274 of 1272 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)

Preceded by Wittgenstein's Nephew, and followed by Schindler's List.

This book is in Faber Firsts. (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Kazuo Ishiguro (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Country: UK
Publication Date: 1982
ISBN: 0-571-11866-6
Page Count: 192

Classification edit see section history


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