Stevens also remembers his interactions with Miss Kenton, the housekeeper who joined Darlington Hall in 1922 and left in 1938, after getting married to a former colleague.
The novel begins with Stevens receiving a letter from Miss Kenton, who now lives in Cornwall with her husband, Mr. Benn. The letter suggests that Miss Kenton might be dissatisfied with her marriage and might be interested in returning to Darlington Hall, which has been sold to an American businessman, Mr. Farraday, after Lord Darlington’s death. Stevens decides to take advantage of Mr. Farraday’s offer to borrow his car and take a vacation, and sets out to visit Miss Kenton and possibly persuade her to come back.
On his way, Stevens stops at various places, such as Salisbury, where he meets a friendly stranger who advises him to enjoy his life; Taunton, where he visits the Taylor family, who used to work at Darlington Hall; and Little Compton, where he meets Dr. Carlisle, a former acquaintance of Lord Darlington. At each stop, Stevens reflects on his past and the events that shaped his life and career.
Stevens recalls how he dedicated himself to the service of Lord Darlington, whom he admired and respected for his noble ideals and his sense of duty. He also recalls how he tried to maintain a professional and dignified demeanor, even in the face of personal and emotional challenges, such as the death of his father, who was also a butler; the dismissal of two Jewish maids, who were fired by Lord Darlington under the pressure of Nazi guests; and the growing attraction between him and Miss Kenton, who often challenged and teased him, but also supported and cared for him.
Stevens also remembers how Lord Darlington’s reputation and influence declined over the years, as his involvement in Nazi appeasement and his sympathy for Germany became more evident and controversial. Stevens witnesses how Lord Darlington is manipulated and deceived by his German friends, such as Herr Ribbentrop, the German ambassador, and Herr Dupont, a French aristocrat who is secretly a Nazi agent. Stevens also sees how Lord Darlington is criticized and ridiculed by his British peers, such as Sir David Cardinal, a journalist, and Mr. Lewis, an American congressman, who accuse him of being naive and traitorous.
