Mr. Stevens who has been the head butler for decades at Darlington Hall now works for the new owner, an American. With an opportunity to drive to Cornwall while his employer is away, he plans to visit Miss Keaton who was once a co-worker under Lord Darlington. Mr. Stevens begins his journey while his thoughts turn to the past. During the 1930s important meetings were held in Darlington Hall as well as incidents between himself and Miss Keaton that he dwells over.

I have read few Nobel Prize winning novels that deserve the accolades as much as this book does. From the very first page, the butler’s voice is as if he’s speaking to the reader. As well, the frustrations of Miss Keaton are clear from the dialog each time she tries to navigate beneath Mr. Stevens’s stoic surface.

• Other 5 out of 5s