Description
A CLASSIC OF LOVE AND REDEMPTION • W. Somerset Maugham’s haunting novel of betrayal, forgiveness, and transformation, one of the most enduring works of twentieth-century fiction.
Kitty Fane is a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage to Walter, a reserved bacteriologist. When her infidelity is exposed, Walter forces her to accompany him to a remote Chinese village ravaged by cholera. There, far from the comforts of society, Kitty confronts not only the devastation of disease but the emptiness of her own life. What begins as punishment becomes a journey of self-discovery, as Kitty learns about love, responsibility, and the possibility of change.
First published in 1925, W. Somerset Maugham’s The Painted Veil blends psychological depth with vivid setting, offering a portrait of personal awakening set against colonial China. It explores themes of pride, passion, and redemption with Maugham’s trademark clarity and restraint. The title, drawn from Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poetry, reflects the novel’s central idea—that behind life’s illusions lies a deeper, harsher truth. “The only way to avoid being miserable is not to have enough leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not,” Maugham writes, a line that captures the novel’s unsentimental wisdom.
This Feel Classics edition presents the novel in an accessible format for modern readers. With a thoughtful introduction, explanatory notes, glossary, and a detailed chronology of Maugham’s life, it is ideal for students, first-time readers, and literature enthusiasts alike.
A moving, unforgettable classic that still speaks to anyone who has ever searched for meaning beyond illusion.
