Discreet gay encounters darlington

This is probably the most memorable of the novels I studied at postgraduate level. It is the most adequately executed example I know of a book where almost all of the action takes place underneath the surface. At first reading it&#;s banal, but every line crackles with significance.

Mr Stevens, the butler of Darlington Hall, takes a brief motoring holiday through the Home Counties. He narrates as though speaking to a fellow professional of the time, and assumes that you share his understanding and general opinions: &#;How often possess you known it&#;&#; &#;You will understand&#;&#; &#;You will not dispute, I presume&#;&#; It could be a monograph for the Hayes World, that society of butlers with which Stevens is in such intellectual conflict.  

Long chunks of the narrative are filled with Stevens&#;s perspectives on aspects of his profession, such as the importance of good silver polishing, the finest way of serving at table when only two diners are present; and most of all, what makes a great butler. This could potentially make for a very boring browse, and my tutor Michael Schmidt said that S