…in which an aging butler reflects upon his career and the direction his life has taken. The Remains of the Day takes the form of a travel journal kept by Stevens, the butler of Darlington Hall. Stevens is writing this journal as he makes a several day road trip to meet Miss Kenton, previously the housekeeper of Darlington Hall during the glory days of Lord Darlington. Ostensibly he is going to gage her interest in returning to her post years after she quit it, but gradually reasons of a more personal nature begin to appear. As Stevens crosses the English countryside, he recalls his relationship with Lord Darlington, his philosophy and goals as a butler, and his past interactions with Miss Kenton.
The journal is written some time after World War II, when Stevens is deep into middle age. At this point in time, Lord Darlington is dead and Darlington Hall has been bought by an American man. However, most of the incidents related in the journal take place in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. In this period, Stevens is at the height of his career. He is a butler of the highest caliber, and unflinchingly dedicated to his work. His philosophy is that he can best serve society by serving one of the great men whose duty it is to shape society, and this is who he believes Lord Darlington to be. Some time after Stevens is taken on, Miss Kenton is hired as the new housekeeper. Her status in the house is on par with Stevens’; she is the head of the female staff members. While Stevens is very serious, reserved, and traditional, Miss Kenton is something of a spitfire. Though their personalities occasionally clash, the two develop a strong professional relationship.
