If you saw the excellent Merchant Ivory film based on this book, the all you need to know is that the book is even better. If you have done neither, read the book nor seen the film, then you should do both! This is about as close to perfect as a novel can get; very readable, compelling; perfectly realized characters, place and time. There is a rumor that filmmaker Mike Nichols required all the actors to read the book before the first day of filming so they would be better able to bring their respective characters to life. The description is deceptively simple: In post-World War II England, Stevens, a gentleman’s gentleman, reflects on his years of service to the inhabitants of Darlington Hall, and begins to wonder if he truly has, as he has always thought, served humanity by his service to a great man. I say “deceptively simple” because this book contains many nuanced layers, all of which you will enjoy discovering as you read through it. Highest recommendation.

Released at Waco, Texas USA: Baylor Library OBCZ (Garden level by Java City)