The Painted Veil

"The Painted Veil" by W. Somerset Maugham is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story explores themes of infidelity, love, and self-discovery through the experiences of its central character, Kitty Fane, who is caught in a tumultuous affair. The narrative delves into her complex relationships with her husband, Walter Fane, and her lover, Charles Townsend, against the backdrop of a cholera epidemic in China. The opening of the novel introduces Kitty and Walter Fane in a state of emotional turmoil, revealing the tension simmering in their marriage. There is a sense of dread as they hear a mysterious attempt to open a door, which heightens their anxiety and suggests underlying secrets. Maugham captures Kitty's inner conflict as she grapples with her feelings toward both her husband and her lover while providing glimpses of their lives in Tching-Yen. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that their existence in a colonial setting and the choices they make will lead to profound personal consequences. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Somerset Maugham was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German university. He became a medical student in London and qualified as a physician in 1897. He never practised medicine, and became a full-time writer. His first novel, Liza of Lambeth (1897), a study of life in the slums, attracted attention, but it was as a playwright that he first achieved national celebrity. By 1908 he had four plays running at once in the West End of London. He wrote his 32nd and last play in 1933, after which he abandoned the theatre and concentrated on novels and short stories.