“They were talking more distantly than if they were strangers who had just met, for if they had been he would have been interested in her just because of that, and curious, but their common past was a wall of indifference between them. Kitty knew too well that she had done nothing to beget her father's affection, he had never counted in the house and had been taken for granted, the bread-winner who was a little despised because he could provide no more luxuriously for his family; but she had taken for granted that he loved her just because he was her father, and it was a shock to discover that his heart was empty of feeling for her. She had known that they were all bored by him, but it had never occurred to her that he was equally bored by them. He was as ever kind and subdued, but the sad perspicacity which she had learnt in suffering suggested to her that, though he probably never acknowledged it to himself and never would, in his heart he disliked her.”
Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
Work
The Painted Veil is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham, first published in 1925. It follows the story of Kitty Fane, a young and frivolous woman who marries a reserved bacteriologist, Walter, and moves with him to Hong Kong. After engaging in an affair, she is forced to accompany her husband to a remote Chinese village ravaged by a cholera epidemic. There, amid suffering and isolation, Kitty confronts her own flaws and undergoes a profound transformation, exploring themes of love, betrayal, redemption, and the search for meaning. The novel is known for its vivid portrayal of early 20th-century China and its psychological depth. more
Author
W. Somerset Maugham was a British playwright known for his sharp wit and insightful portrayal of human nature. Born on January 25, 1874, and passing away on December 16, 1965, Maugham's plays often delved into the complexities of human relationships and the social dynamics of his era. more
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