“ We English have no very strong attachment to the soil, we can make ourselves at home in any part of the world, but the French, I think, have an attachment to their country which is almost a physical bond. ”
W. Somerset Maugham, The Painted Veil (1925). copy citation
| Author | W. Somerset Maugham |
|---|---|
| Source | The Painted Veil |
| Topic | country attachment France |
| Date | 1925 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | https://www.gutenberg.org/files/64682/64682-h/64682-h.htm |
Context
“"No, it was only some one walking over my grave."
"When they leave France they leave it for ever. They're not like the Protestant missionaries who have a year's leave every now and then. I always think that must be the hardest thing of all. We English have no very strong attachment to the soil, we can make ourselves at home in any part of the world, but the French, I think, have an attachment to their country which is almost a physical bond. They're never really at ease when they're out of it. It always seems to me very moving that these women should make just that sacrifice. I suppose if I were a Catholic it would seem very natural to me."” source
"When they leave France they leave it for ever. They're not like the Protestant missionaries who have a year's leave every now and then. I always think that must be the hardest thing of all. We English have no very strong attachment to the soil, we can make ourselves at home in any part of the world, but the French, I think, have an attachment to their country which is almost a physical bond. They're never really at ease when they're out of it. It always seems to me very moving that these women should make just that sacrifice. I suppose if I were a Catholic it would seem very natural to me."” source
Meaning and analysis
