Ishiguro is well-regarded for his contemporary narratives, many of which are influenced by the UK and Japan. His books often explore themes of memory, time, and self. His best-known novels include ‘Never Let Me Go’ and ‘Klara and the Sun.’

Life Facts

He was born on November 8, 1954, in Nagasaki, Japan.
He moved to the UK with his family when he was five.
His bicultural background has significantly influenced his writing.
In 1986, he married Lorna McDougall.

Interesting Facts

Ishiguro’s novels often explore the past.
His writing style is characterized by subtlety and understatement.
In 2017, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
He has been nominated for the Book Prize four times.
He has also worked on several screenplays.

Famous Books

Never Let Me Go – This novel was named one of the best English-language novels published between 1923 and 2005. It focuses on Kathy, a clone created for the sole purpose of growing usable organs, and her upbringing.
Klara and the Sun – This novel is set in the United States and takes place in the future. It’s told from the perspective of what’s known as an AF, or Artificial Friend.
The Remains of the Day – This novel was published in 1989 and won the Booker Prize the same year. It was also adapted into a film starring Anthony Hopkins.
The Buried Giant – Published in 2015, this fantasy novel is another great example of Ishiguro’s work. It focuses on an elderly couple in an alternative version of England in which no one is able to retain long-term memories. It was nominated for several awards.
The Unconsoled – This novel was first published in 1996 and takes place over a three-day period. It focuses on a famous pianist who struggles to control a series of promises he can’t quite remember.

Early Life

Kazuo Ishiguro was born on November 8, 1954, in Nagasaki, Japan. His parents moved to the UK after his father was invited to conduct research at the National Institute of Oceanography. He was only five years old at the time and didn’t go back to Japan until the late 1980s. Until then, Japan was only in his imagination, something that he specifically notes as being highly influential in his first two books.

He attended Stoughton Primary School and Woking County Grammar School in Surrey and developed a love for music at an early age. He learned to play instruments and was initially hoping to become a professional songwriter.

He graduated from the University of Ken, Canterbury, in 1978 with a degree in English and philosophy and then attended the University of East Anglia, where he earned a Master of Arts in 1980. His first novel, ‘A Pale View of Hills’ was published a couple of years later. In 1986, he married Lorna McDougall, and the two have a daughter, Naomi, who is also an author.

Literary Career

Ishiguro’s first two novels, as noted above, were highly influenced by his understanding of Japan, a place he only knew from pictures and his parent’s experiences. Since then, most of his writing has taken place in England. ‘Never Let Me Go,’ which was published in 2005, takes place in England, as does ‘The Remains of the Day.’ The latter is set around WWII, specifically, and takes place at an English country house.

Most of his novels use a first-person narrative style and are marked by an understated writing style. His work has been compared to writers like Salman Rushdie and Henry James.

In 2017, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his novels and is regarded today as one of the most important contemporary English-language writers. His eighth novel, ‘Klara and the Sun’ was published in 2021 and was nominated for the Booker Prize.

He has also worked on several screenplays and published a book of short stories, ‘Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall.’

Literature by Kazuo Ishiguro

Explore literature by Kazuo Ishiguro below, created by the team at Book Analysis.

Never Let Me Go

About Kazuo Ishiguro

British Novelist

Life Facts

Interesting Facts