The Painted Veil
Prepared by the Litseller editorial team. Our goal is to share concise, accurate, and valuable book summaries for personal growth and education.
Summary
The novel «The Painted Veil» by Somerset Maugham tells the story of Kitty Fane, a young woman who marries Dr. Walter Fane. Their marriage lacks love and is built on mutual misconceptions. Kitty has an affair with Charles Townsend, but Walter discovers it and gives her a choice: either he will file for divorce, or she must accompany him to a remote Chinese town plagued by a cholera epidemic. Kitty agrees to the journey, and in China, she begins to reevaluate her life and relationships. Through her work at the mission, she finds inner strength and understanding, realizing that Charles is not worthy of her love. Walter dies from cholera, and Kitty returns to England, determined to start a new life free from past illusions and mistakes.
Date of publication: 8 January 2025
———The Painted Veil
Author:
Genre: Classical literature