Read about the other lines on the list.“I should hope, then, that by the time of my employer’s return, I shall be in a position to pleasantly surprise him.”
—Mr. Stevens, The Remains of the Day
Why it tears us up: Stevens has totally nailed being a butler for his whole entire life—to his emotional detriment, let’s face it—and now, on top of everything else, he’s gotta learn how to banter? He’s been listening to other people talk so he can learn how to joke around?! It’s heartbreaking and he doesn’t even know it! Stevens—just Thelma and Louise it off a damn cliff. No wait, don’t. We love you.
The Remains of the Day is among Lucy Lethbridge's ten top books about servants and Tim Vine's six best books.
Also see Robert McCrum's list of ten of the best closing lines of novels and the American Book Review's list of the 100 best last lines from novels.
--Marshal Zeringue
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