The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham
Kitty Fane has married Walter so she can be married before her younger sister. But she doesn't love him. Walter is a bacteriologist who is vacationing from his work in Hong Kong. After their arrival, Kitty meets and falls in love with a diplomat. But Walter finds out about their affair and insists she accompany him to China where he is going to try to help with a cholera outbreak.
Kitty doesn't start out as a very sympathetic character. But as the book goes on you learn what motivates her. Very slowly she grows on you. "The Painted Veil" is a very easy book to read...flowing language and believable characters. I'd recommend it to everyone.
2 comments:
I've wanted to read this for ages. Thanks for reminding me of it! I want to see the movie too, but refuse to watch it until I've read the book.
In my opinion the movie is better because of the liberties taken with the story. It was more romantic. But I did like the book. It is more realistic. Since reading this book I am now a fan of Maugham.
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