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The Painted Veil
- Narrated by: Sophie Ward
- Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
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Summary
The Painted Veil was recently made into a feature film starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts.
Critic reviews
"An expert craftsman....His style is sharp, quick, subdued, casual."( The 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)
What listeners say about The Painted Veil
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Juliet
- 20-08-08
The Painted Veil
Fantastic story. One of those that when it ends, you want to double check it really has finished because you were enjoying it so much
15 people found this helpful
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- Helen
- 11-11-12
Beautiful
Beautiful, serene, quite affectionate style of writing, I did enjoy this book despite its often old fashioned language, the whole thing was very captivating and special.
10 people found this helpful
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- p.hammond@btinternet.com
- 05-03-13
Love and revenge.
A story that will be told forever. Love, revenge and life doesn't end after a fall
8 people found this helpful
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- Philip
- 05-07-17
A beautifully read classic...
An evocative classic that opens a unique window into British life in the Far East via the deteriorating relationship between a doctor and his wife. This was my first Somerset Maugham book and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Sophie Ward does a splendid job at narration. Recommended.
7 people found this helpful
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- Quirkyjay
- 06-09-17
Gorgeous
Such a charming story, beautifully narrated. I enjoyed the images of Shanghai in the 20's & the insight into the complex relationship of the characters.
6 people found this helpful
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- Jane
- 26-02-16
Great listen
I loved this book and Sophie Ward reads it beautifully. I was impatient with the characters at first but grew to sympathise and identify with them and got totally caught up in the tale. Very easy to listen to and I finished it in a few days.
5 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Mirium
- 06-02-08
Bleak but compelling
Typical Somerset Maugham - compelling and desperately sad. I wanted to listen to this after seeing the film. As expected, the book is much bleaker and more complex, without the reconciliation between Kitty and Walter that made the film more of a straightforward romance.
14 people found this helpful
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- carolyn
- 08-05-13
Brilliant
Great story about a woman who gets herself into a bit of a pickle with an affair in china at turn of century
5 people found this helpful
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- tim
- 16-08-20
Highly recommended
A great story, believable characters, and a beautiful, persuasive narration that kept my interest throughout.
1 person found this helpful
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- Max
- 01-04-12
A brilliant novel
I found the writing compelling, and rather fascinating, and it's a great idea for a story (although Maugham's casual racism is a bit off-putting at times). Unfortunately the narration is monotonous and she doesn't really attempt to separate the different voices. It's a shame as it would be hugely enjoyable.
8 people found this helpful
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- RtooDtoo
- 28-02-10
Amazing story
This story really took me by surprise. I thought it might be a dated and quaint journey into another time. While parts of it are quaint, its substance is timeless. It has all the major ingredients of a great story: lust, love, betrayal, adventure, pathos, and an anti-hero(ine) central character who transforms in a plausible way. The woman reading it is a little wooden, but her posh accent is actually quite enjoyable and works well with the story.
7 people found this helpful
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- Nicole
- 26-03-09
WONDERFUL NARRATOR!
After watching the movie, I wanted to read the book. It was obviously a better book. Much more human ending. The narrator brought the book to life in such a way that it truly moved me. Thank you! Great buy!
5 people found this helpful
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Overall

- Karen
- 22-02-09
Better than the movie
I was very taken with the movie of "The Painted Veil." While I still think the film very fine, this novella proves itself better precisely in those places where the film-makers altered the story. Kitty never becomes perfect, and the ending is hopeful, not triumphant. The reading, too, is very well done. Good male voices, as well as the female.
7 people found this helpful
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- Pat Brett
- 08-09-20
Magnificent
Now I know why classics are masterpieces.... brilliant and heart wrenching.... wise and magnificent in scope.... this is how art informs and reflects life in all its many mysteries... unforgettably beautiful.
1 person found this helpful
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- Mavep
- 13-09-12
Great story, moving and satisfying.
Would you consider the audio edition of The Painted Veil to be better than the print version?
Yes. It is so beautifully read, like listening to a play.
What other book might you compare The Painted Veil to and why?
Perhaps Wuthering Heights as it has great characters and an atmospheric quality.
Have you listened to any of Sophie Ward’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I haven't but would certainly do so again.
If you could take any character from The Painted Veil out to dinner, who would it be and why?
Not sure.
Any additional comments?
A beautifully told story of a shallow young woman who learns what is important in life through hardship and the self-giving lives of some French nuns. I thought the ending touching and satisfying, without being sentimental.
3 people found this helpful
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- Ellenaeddy
- 18-05-12
Early Imperialism and the flapper
I can't tell you why I love this glimpse into the twenties and early 20th century china. The romance belies romance and kicks the gooey love stuff to the curb. But I came to love the doctor in this book, even if his wife was too shallow to manage that herself. And she in her own way learns to be kind. It's a very interesting book about imperfect lives.
4 people found this helpful
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- blusegyrl
- 06-01-21
Wonderful
He is of course one of the greatest writers of all time. It’s full of human conflict, great detail of a foreign country and last but not least redemption of the human spirit
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- James G Toole
- 09-11-20
Wonderful reading for a masterful work
Not only is this a fabulous book, the reading of it is terrific. I’ve listened to it twice now and may listen to it again.
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- Becky Pogacar
- 04-08-20
Better that the movie version
The principal character grew through reflection on the choices she had made. I enjoyed this very much.
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- H Boodoosingh
- 09-04-20
Beautifully read
The story is gripping as the protagonist grapples with her own mistakes and the consequences of them. It is beautifully read so that you can truly understand the deepest thoughts of all the characters. A definite must for anyone who loves historical tragic romances.