It is, though, where his identity rests and it serves him instead of emotion. 'Dignity' is a recurring theme throughout the book as Stevens ponders his thoughts that it's dignity which makes a great butler, although he struggles on several occasions to explain exactly what it means to him. It's obvious to all that Miss Kenton was (and probably still is) in love with Stevens and that he had similar feelings for her – but he was unable to put professional dignity to one side and admit the feelings even to himself. Stevens tells us of his trip to the West Country and interspersed with this are his recollections of his service with Lord Darlington (and our dawning realisation that in the years prior to the Second World War he was a Nazi sympathiser) and his relationship with Miss Kenton. There's a hint in the letter that Mrs Benn is unhappy and that her marriage is over and Stevens wonders if he might be able to solve his staffing problems by bringing her back as housekeeper. Stevens would not indulge himself by taking the trip for personal reasons but he's recently had a letter from Mrs Benn who, in the days when she was Miss Kenton was the housekeeper at Darlington Hall. He's the butler at Darlington Hall, now owned by Mr Farraday who bought the property after Lord Darlington's death some three years ago. It's 1956 and Stevens is considering a motoring trip to the West Country.

Summary: A compelling page turner which also deservedly won the Booker Prize.

The remains of the day pages