Maugham’s novel is characterized by its sharp, unsentimental prose and its deep dive into the flaws of human nature. Movie Review: John Curran's The Painted Veil (2006)
is a classic of early 20th-century literature and cinema that explores the themes of infidelity, redemption, and spiritual awakening. Originally a 1925 novel by W. Somerset Maugham, it has been adapted into several films, most notably the 2006 version starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. The story follows Kitty Fane, a shallow socialite who marries a bacteriologist, Walter, only to have an affair in colonial Hong Kong. In a vengeful act, Walter forces her to accompany him to a remote Chinese village ravaged by a cholera epidemic. The Original Novel (1925) The Painted Veil