THE PAINTED VEIL English Original Version

Maugham's classic of female awakening has been adapted into movies three times, showing women's loss in desire and control of their destiny in self-awakening. This version is the original English version and provides an in-depth exploration of the true meaning of love, marriage, human nature and life. In front of these themes, there is often a colorful veil of illusion, and lifting this veil, as the book says, "will be a road to tranquility." The protagonists in the story, Kitty, a beautiful but vain British woman, and Walter, a withdrawn bacteriologist, are a couple who hastily entered into marriage due to lack of understanding. When Walter discovered Kitty's extramarital affair with Charlie Townsend, Assistant Chief Secretary of Hong Kong, he did not become angry on the spot, but it triggered a series of unexpected events. In order to retaliate, Walter decided to take Kitty to the epidemic area in mainland China-Meitan Prefecture, but in the end he died there. After staying away from the temptation of the upper class, Kitty gradually sees clearly the hypocrisy of her lover, her own superficiality and her husband's deep affection. She longed for Walter's forgiveness, but she only heard a heartbreaking "It was the dog that died" before he died. On the way back to London, Kitty was hit by the death of her mother. This series of events made her finally make up her mind to leave London with her father and start a new life. This work profoundly depicts the growth and awakening of women in difficult situations. It is a classic worth reading again and again.