Hertfordshire is part of the historic county in southern England. The county consists of ten districts: East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire, Three Rivers, Welwyn Hatfield, Broxbourne, Dacorum, Hertsmere, Stevenge, Watford, and the city of St. Albans. As indicated by the time frame in the novel, Hertfordshire was connected with the aircraft industry and held a number of artillery bases during the 1920s-1930s. Pre-WWII the population of Hertfordshire was about 10,000. The novel quotes explains the scenery of the county, “ I can well imagine how he must have looked that day, framed by the doorway of the vehicle, his dark, severe presence quite blotting out the effect of the gentle Hertfordshire scenery behind him”( Ishiguro 39). The quote contrasts the calm of the country with the anger of Stevens' father.