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. Gender, sexuality, and history in the painted veil. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life the novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925. Naomi watts and john curran interviewed the painted veil. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful, but lovestarved kitty fane. Edward norton and naomi watts in the painted veil 2006. The screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 novel of the same title by w. In my opinion, the painted veil was a great choice for a book discussion group.
The painted veil book vs movie janet cheng in literature on 12 march, 2020. Im quite stingy when it comes to rating books and normally would not give more than 4 stars, even for a book i thoroughly enjoyed. So, we can imagine that shes evolved and she chose to be a better human being. In this essay i will investigate what the intertextual references bring to the novel, and what their functions are. The end of your life book club audiobook by will schwalbe. I watched the painted veil, the movie starring edward norton and naomi watts, one night when huzzybuns was out of either town or country or both, and then tore through my house looking for the book. The painted veil discussion questions classics reading group.
With greta garbo, herbert marshall, george brent, warner oland. The painted veil, at least the novel version, is the story of kittys introspection and selfimprovement. It is not a love story, which the 2006 film adaptation starring edward norton and naomi watts might lead you to believe. I wanted to read the painted veil because it was one of the few somerset maugham books i never read as a teenager, when i devoured most of them, and i had seen the film. Vintage classics, 1925, 214 pages first published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. I try to write about films within 48 hours of viewing them, but with one thing and another, it took me almost a week to get around to the painted veil, and this i think is a good thing, because immediately after viewing it, i was under the distinct impression that it was a great deal more interesting than is actually the case.
The painted veil tells about a woman named kitty garstin, who ends up marrying someone she barely knows for the wrong reasons, such as her desire to escape her family. The painted veil is a 2006 american drama film directed by john curran. An elegy on the death of a mad dog by oliver goldsmith 17281774. Somerset maugham andits about a young english couple, played by edward norton and naomi watts, whomove to. The imperialism of the westerns is impressive and a doctor is capable to order to burn down the houses of the villagers to the ground without explaining them the reason why. I watched the film several years ago with a huge box of tissues to hand and loved it. Somerset maughams the painted veil is easily the best book ive. I liked the book much much better than the movie as the novel reveals the complexity of kittys emotions. Free download or read online the painted veil pdf epub book. The painted veil has the ingredients of a great film, including cinematography alternatively lush and parched and highcaliber actors. By the time the season drew to its end they had seen a good deal of one another, but he had remained as aloof and impenetrable as ever. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the painted veil by w. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 246 pages and is available in paperback format. The painted veil is simple, well told and enjoyable, but i wish there had been more descriptions of this area of china and its people.
Walter and kitty barely spoke as they travelled by chair through the inscrutable chinese hinterland. It is a story of love, betrayal, hatred, revenge and redemption. See more ideas about blue ceilings, blue ceiling bedroom and colored ceiling. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young kitty fane. The painted veil completely changed my mind on this point. The main characters of this classics, fiction story are. Craddock, another work by maugham, the character of bertha vaguely reminds me of kitty. Painted veil video clips edward norton, naomi watts.
Beginning in may 1925, it was serialised in the united kingdom in eight parts in. The painted veil essays are academic essays for citation. Though i think kitty on the whole is a more interesting character and the painted veil a more compelling novel. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic. While there are several significant changes in how her journey toward a better life is portrayed and the particulars of her circumstances, the film nevertheless captures. The film didnt impress audiences when it came out, but being the third film based on the same book perhaps the theme had already been exploited to death. I only recently borrowed the book, and decided to put my theory to the test. The painted veil is a romance with a corny conclusion about a marriage without love of a dedicated researcher and a bored housewife.
The 2006 movie adaptation of the painted veil, a novel written by somerset mangham in 1925, romanticises the resolution of the marriage of walter fane and kitty, an english frivolous socialite. Some may find maugham a bit dated now, but thats just what i love so much. Lifting the veils in william somerset maughams the. In the end, as a tormented love story, the painted veil works, and, although predictable ending included, it has all the right elements of its genre.
The painted veil 2006 fullhd movie online free no download. The first edition of the novel was published in april 1925, and was written by w. The painted veil beautifully presents the story of a young society woman named kitty and her redemption from a shallow and selfcentered life through her growing ability to love. The end of love the painted veil soundtrack by tudorgeekdisneyfreak. Somerset maughams classic the painted veil, the first thought that came into my head after finishing the book is that this is a masterpiece that absolutely deserves nothing less than 5 stars. As usual for a somerset maugham, i was compelled to read it in almost one session. The painted veil was definitely great, changed in a skilfull way but no so much and beautiful in its own, rather different than the novel, way. First published in 1925, the painted veil recounts the moral awakening of a vain, careless young woman, kitty ms. From lift not the painted veil which those who live by persy bysshe shelley 17921822. Walter vane, an intense bacteriologist, falls helplessly in love with kitty, an impulsive beauty who agrees to marry him only to avoid the humiliation of.
The painted veil is a novel written by w somerset maugham in 1925. 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. I hadnt read the painted veil before i saw the movie with ed norton and naomi watts. Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and liev schreiber appear in the leading roles this is the third film adaptation of the maugham book, following a 1934 film starring greta garbo and herbert. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the painted veil by w. Ending spoiler for the painted veil 2006, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. This is going to be an extremely casual set of thoughts. It took me two days to locate the book, which i immediately read then followed up with a second viewing of the movie and then the bbc radio 4. He made no further claim for himself than that he was a good storyteller.
The main thrust of the book is kittys transformation after she and walter husband move to a cholerastricken region and she volunteers in a. The nuns have changed her but the change began only at the end of the book. Maybe she seeks walters forgiveness when she wants to be loved by her father. The novel also inspired a 2006 drama movie of the same name starring edward norton and naomi watts. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is. 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 tale of kitty naomi watts. The painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. The question and answer section for the painted veil is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. 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. I admired the potraiture of people as people complex.
I remember watching once the razors edge from the mid 1940s, filmed immediately after the publishing of the novel. Published by vintage international on february 10, 2004 originally published april 1925. Walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china who falls madly in love with her. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. When her younger sister announces her own engagement to a prosperous duke, kitty panics and accepts the proposal of the very quiet, very shy, dr. I wouldnt normally see a movie like that, but it was based on the book by maugham, so i. Several times in the novel, the death of a character is a liberation for those close to them. Surely, i thought, my perception of the characters and plot will be coloured by the adaptation. The painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman. Maugham uses a thirdpersonlimited point of view in this story, where kitty garstin is the focal character. How frighteningly yellow were the faces that surrounded them. Watts, who has been raised for a life of abject uselessness.
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