The Painted Veil

By: W. Somerset Maugham

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

First published in 1925, The Painted Veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive. Set in England and Hong Kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young Kitty Fane. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to a remote region of China ravaged by a cholera epidemic.

Stripped of the British society of her youth and overwhelmed by the desolation around her, she is compelled by her awakening conscience to reassess her life. She takes up work with children at a convent, but when her husband dies, she is forced to return to England to her father, her one remaining relative, to raise her unborn child. Though too late for her marriage, she has learned humility, independence, and how to love.

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©1925 W. Somerset Maugham (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Classic, 2007

"[Maugham is] the modern writer who has influenced me the most." (George Orwell)
"An expert craftsman....His style is sharp, quick, subdued, casual."(New York Times)
"The Painted Veil, with its sadness, its moral tension, its irony and compassion, its building evocations of lust and terror and remorse, is a work of art." (Spectator)

A compelling story of transformation

This book was a very intense listen. First published in 1925, it is the story of a childless woman who starts out--a product of her upbringing--as a fairly shallow, bored woman who is having an affair with someone known to her husband. Upon his discovering this, he takes her to an area of China that is rampant with cholera (one assumes this dangerous action was meant to put her passively into death's midst as a way to punish her.)

Here, she gradually finds her way to a local convent where she begins to find meaningful work in helping the nuns care for children there, and so, despite the terrible conditions they live in, she is beginning to have experiences that will ultimately lead to enormous growth for herself. This does have a rather early feminist quality to it--whether intentionally or not. Or at least, it is hard not to read it that way at this point in time.

The book traces the course of significant inner changes in Kitty Fane's life--that end with her being back with her father and pondering all that she has learned in the events she has survived, hoping her own child will have a life different from her own.

What makes this book so good, among other things, is its' shift to the examination of a woman's experiences, her transformation and how she deepens her existence as a result of challenging events she has lived through. Kate Reading does an excellent job of narration. I highly recommend this as a very good read/listen!

Even better than I remembered.

I had forgotten this book brought forth so many emotions for me. There were parts I didn't remember reading the first time around. I thought it was good then, read for school, now even better as I understand the meaning due to age and (i hope) wisdom.

Kate Reading is one of my favorite narrators. A must listen of a great classic story.

Dante spoiled it

Perhaps it is because I am the type of person who prefers to see a movie without having seen its trailer, but because this book points out at the beginning that it is based on a verse from Dante which pretty much spells out the plot, I felt like I knew too much. I wish I could have heard this book without knowing the general direction of the plot.

Perhaps it is because I never grew to sympathize with the main character that I failed to be moved. She began as a spoiled and snooty product of a very unlikeable mother. She remained this way through most of the book until a rather cliched form of awakening. This is where the plot deviates from Dante's poem, unfortunately, since in Dante she gets tossed out a window.

Yes, it was written and read well. This was my first attempt at Maugham-- it was good enough that I may try him again, but I am not rushing to it.

Another great book by Somerset Maugham

The narrator draws you into this book and adds so much to the enjoyment of the story.

A classic novel

I don’t think I’m educated enough to do this justice but I wanted to say even though it’s old fashioned & sometimes wordy that doesn’t stop you from enjoying the story If you’ve seen either of the movies it will allow you to imagine China & Cholera but other than a few things here & there it’s not the same I’ve always loved Maugham movies on TCM,this is the first one I actually read Glad I did!

Pretty good

Excellent performance. I would recommend this book. A tragic love story. Not my favorite, but a classic.

A Timeless Favorite

This book has always been a favorite and I read or now listen to it every couple of years!! The infidelity of a young wife that leads her to more pain than she could ever imagine! The growing up she does in such a short amount of time can teach us all a lesson!

An often overlooked classic

Excellent narration! Artful character development. Descriptive scenery brings it alive. I had forgotten how skillfully Maughm creates insight and fleshes out his characters.

Excellent narration

The narrator has a beautiful voice and perfect French accent (which is hard to do!)

Magnificent

This may just be the best book I've ever listened to. The story is captivating and the narration excellent.