When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to a remote region of china ravaged by a cholera epidemic. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is. The painted veil a beautifully written story about a young wife, kitty fane, who is brought to hong kong by her doctor husband in the 1920s. The painted veil is the fifth book ive read from my tbr pile challenge list. Kitty fane is a beautiful, vain, upperclass british woman unhappily married to walter fane, a bacteriologist working in hong kong.
The painted veil is a beautifully written affirmation of the human capacity to grow, to change, and to forgive. I will bring print outs of the two poems tomorrow night. Original score, cinematography a lock, editing, ad. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the. Only when it is too late does dymovs wife olga like kitty realize her husbands moral worth and see that he is a far finer man than she had realized. In her prime, she was the apple of her mothers eye and virtually guaranteed a marvelous marriage only she waited too long to choose a husband from amongst her many suitors. Its no surprise that one of the best scenes in the latest and third film iteration of w. Theme is usually about big ideas like friendship, trust, freedom, and so on. Tweet about the painted veil study guide email the painted veil study guide to a friend.
Several times in the novel, the death of a character is a liberation for those. Quotes from the painted veil the painted veil, good. But just the same, its been a while since i watched a movie adaptation. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic. It is a story of love, betrayal, hatred, revenge and redemption.
I admired the potraiture of people as people complex. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Somerset maughams 1925 novel the painted veil, previously filmed rather beautifully in 1934 starring greta garbo and indifferently in 1957 as the seventh sin, is. The lifted veil george eliot pseudonym of mary ann or marian evans english novelist, short story writer, essayist, poet, editor, and translator. Beginning in may 1925, it was serialised in the united kingdom in eight parts in. Hes invited to a party where he espies uppercrust socialite kitty garstin watts, and for walter, its love at first sight. Percy bysshe shelley sonnet lift not the painted veil.
Somerset maugham countryunited kingdom publisherheinemann george h. Human bondage, a semiautobiographical novel that deals with the life of the main. The painted veil discussion questions classics reading group. The painted veil is a novel written by w somerset maugham in 1925. We wont necessarily discuss each of these questions in order or in so many words, but these are general ideas and themes for the discussion. The painted veil 1934 film, directed by ryszard boleslawski. Walter, but she does find admirable qualities in him and wishes to be his friend. Have you ever waited for your favorite book to be turned into a movie. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Compare and contrast the characters of walter and mr. The title is a reference to the shelley sonnet lift not the painted veil which those who live. But john currans version is both lush and intimate, a showcase for subtle performances in which china becomes an exotic backdrop for white folks troubles. Opinions about the characters varied widely and we talked as much about the authors intent as we did the story. While discussing books recently, one of my friends highly.
Here are the bare bones of the story that both book and movie outline i am not giving away here anything more than the basic set up of the plot. She is conducting an affair with charles townsend, the assistant colonial secretary, and the two are in her room when the knobs to her door mysteriously turn from. When charles heartlessly abandons her, she accepts walters demand to follow him into the cholera epidemic in mainland china. Kitty may not be clever or deep, but she is beautiful and well bred. The painted veil william somerset maugham my book affair. The painted veil 2006 film, directed by john curran. Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and.
I hadnt read the painted veil before i saw the movie with ed norton and naomi watts. The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan. At the beginning, kitty does not love her husband walter, but is instead enamored with the dashing politician charles townsend. Kitty garstin is the elder of two daughters of a middling barrister and a vulgar mother, who comes right out of a jane austen novel and. Somerset maughams novel the painted veil doesnt happen in the book. It was short, a fast read, and possessed of an intriguing setting. First published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive. The painted veil soundtrack, composed by alexandre desplat. The painted veil original motion picture soundtrack. The film chronicles the relationship of walter and kitty fane as they battle an outbreak of cholera in a remote chinese village in the 1920s and seek to restore their marriage. Two great performances, one of the years best screenplays, nicely directed, a beautiful film thanks to the great cinematography and an enjoyable cinematic experience. Financial analysis of the painted veil 2006 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the. Buy the painted veil vintage classics book online at low prices.
Doran publication date 1925 the painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. The screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 novel of the same title by w. I wouldnt normally see a movie like that, but it was based on the book by maugham, so i bent my rules and watched it. The painted veil has the ingredients of a great film, including cinematography alternatively lush and parched and highcaliber actors. The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925. The painted veil william somerset maugham this is a book to get lost in, not just in the usual way of books, but in a way that is haunting and will have you musing for days and days, long after you have turned the final page. The painted veil chapters 6271 summary and analysis. Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the painted veil by w. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. The novel also inspired a 2006 drama movie of the same name starring edward norton and naomi watts.
Stripped of the british society of her youth and the small but effective society she fought so hard to attain in hong kong, she is. While the chinese characters remain mostly anonymous, either children or suffering disease victims. It is in such a hurry to get to its second actin which the cuckolded walter fane takes his unfaithful wife into the heart of a cholera epidemic so that they can both discover too late that they actually do love rather than hate one anotherthat we are no more certain why kitty was unfaithful than we are why walter. T he painted veil is a film that is in love with the idea of love. Published november 14th 2006 by vintage first published april 1925 more details. The storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel. The painted veil is the sort of moviestar vehicle that usually provides for outsized, capital a acting. Only yesterday i borrowed the book again because i wanted to write a brief comparison between the two. In a wild attempt to free herself form her overbearing, condescending mother. And so we come to one of the main themes of this novel. Ever since i overcame my harry potter movie phobia, i dont walk into those films with a constant fear of disappointment. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. A discussion of important themes running throughout the painted veil.
The nature of love is one of the primary themes of the novel. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young kitty fane. The painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. The painted veil should get 4 or 5 oscar nominations.
Whats the difference between the painted veil the book. This study guide consists of approximately 34 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the painted veil. To me our love was everything and you were my whole life. Though of human bondage has gotten raves from friends. Recorded in widescreen technical sound by deutsche grammophon, desplats score for the painted veil catches the films mood of morbid romanticism, and anyone who saw the movie and wants to hear the music independent of the images will be. While i was in the midst of a somerset maugham obsession triggered by selina hastingss superb biography, i mentioned that i thought the painted veil would be an excellent choice for the literary ladies book club. Somerset maugham was one of the twentieth centurys most popular novelists as well as a celebrated playwright, critic, and short story writer. It was silly of us to look for qualities in each other that we never had.
The painted veil is the best movie no one is talking about. The painted veil is a 2006 chineseamerican drama film directed by john curran. The painted veil study guide contains a biography of w. Somerset maugham, the painted veil is a love story set in the 1920s that tells the story of a young english couple, walter, a middle class doctor and kitty, an. The painted veil by somerset maugham books the guardian. I havent read a maugham book in years and i wanted to read the painted veil when the. Whats the difference between the painted veil the book and the painted veil the movie. The biographer richard cordell notes that the book was influenced by maughams study of science and his work as a houseman at st thomas hospital. I love the 2006 adaptation of the movie, and i read the book for the first time last year. She doesnt love her husband so she soon falls in love and begins an affair with her husbands superior.
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