Though well drawn, these characters pale in comparison with kitty. It is a morality tale of astonishing depth and humanity. A book with as many flaws as the painted veil could surely use some improving. 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 beautifully written affirmation of the human capacity to grow, to change, and to forgive. The painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman. I knew one who had lifted ithe sought, for his lost heart was tender. It is a story of love, betrayal, hatred, revenge and redemption. The ending is a bit of a let down the 2006 movie adaptation starring edward norton and naomi watts is much better, but on the whole the painted veil is a compelling tale of love, betrayal, revenge and redemption and confirms maugham as one of my favourite writers. Set in the 1920s in england, hong kong, and china, the painted veil is the story of twentysomething kitty fane. The book is set in the united kingdom and hong kong.
Beautifully written and entertainingly read, it it is well worth listening to more than once. This ending was not at all neat and not even perhaps all that happy, but. I dont want my memory of the book to be ruined if i end up disliking the movies interpretation of the storycharacters. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is. Dash it all, ive left my solar topee downstairs, said charlie. Craddock, another work by maugham, the character of bertha vaguely reminds me of kitty.
Hannibal said, his voice dipping into a reverent whisper, is the painted veil the facade we pretend is true while authenticity waits in the shadows to be revealed, or is it the veil between life and death. 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. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Vintage classics, 1925, 214 pages first published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive. Beginning in may 1925, it was serialised in the united kingdom in eight parts in. Now, her younger sister is marrying well and her mother asks, how long do you expect. I think he is a brilliant actor and he came through again in painted veil. Now the book spends several pages describing kittys psychological agonising as she wonders. I watched the film several years ago with a huge box of tissues to hand and loved it. Jan 19, 2007 t he painted veil is a film that is in love with the idea of love. The painted veil is a 1934 american drama directed by richard boleslawski and starring greta garbo. I wish, the book would have been written as the movie was. Somerset maugham was one of the twentieth centurys most popular novelists as well as a celebrated playwright, critic, and short story writer.
The screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 eponymous novel by w. Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. 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 title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. The painted veil is a compelling tale of lust and redemption, a story that begins sordidly and ends profoundly and one that is rich in reality, compassion, and hope. I liked the book much much better than the movie as the novel reveals the complexity of kittys emotions.
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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Its story is meant for mature audiences, however, so movieguide advises extreme caution for parents with children. The painted veil completely changed my mind on this point. The painted veil study guide contains a biography of w. Maugham uses a thirdpersonlimited point of view in this story, where kitty garstin is the focal character. Somerset maugham, which followed the disillusionment and growth of a shallow young socialite named kitty fane. 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. The storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel. 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 novel also inspired a 2006 drama movie of the same name starring edward norton and naomi watts.
The movie opens with flashbacks in england of how walter fane, a middleclass doctor, married kitty, an upperclass woman with no prospects who wants to. His kitty fane in the painted veil is a less forceful character than these and she has been portrayed by greta garbo, eleanor parker and, now, naomi watts. With naomi watts, edward norton, liev schreiber, catherine an. 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. 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. Somerset maugham 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. Jan 24, 2015 i liked the book much much better than the movie as the novel reveals the complexity of kittys emotions. In walter fane she sees a man who truly loves her, and she realizes that he is someone she can take. Differences between the painted veil book vs movie page 1. Apr 17, 2016 the storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel. I watched the painted veil, the movie starring edward norton and naomi watts, one. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the painted veil by w. The painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w.
Alone after her sisters wedding, austrian olga greta garbo with her former schoolmate, brit doctor walter herbert marshall, in richard boleslawskis the painted veil, 1934, from the somerset maugham novel. The couple at the centre of this bleak tale are hopelessly incompatible. Even in the end when i thought there may be a turning point in the story kitty again let me down. Somerset maugham novel was the source for the fair to middling greta garbo vehicle the painted veil. The painted veil by somerset maugham james reads books. A british medical doctor fights a cholera epidemic in a small chinese village, while being trapped at home in a loveless marriage to an unfaithful wife. Watts, who has been raised for a life of abject uselessness.
Jun 08, 2015 the painted veil 2006 is an adaptation of the novel by w. 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 compelled by her awakening. 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, combined with wanting to marry before her younger and less attractive sister. 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. The painted veil is the fifth book ive read from my tbr pile challenge list.
In my opinion, the painted veil was a great choice for a book discussion group. This is going to be an extremely casual set of thoughts. Why, when my sister inlaw had been married as long as you she had already two babies. There is a friend kitty makes in her travels, and a pair of nuns as well. Kitty garstin is the more beautiful of two sisters who live in london in the. Whats the difference between the painted veil the book and the painted veil the movie. In a situation comparable to the plotlines of most of her silent films, garbo is. The husband and wife in this book are walter and kitty fane. Somerset maughams the painted veil is easily the best book ive read. Of course, the painted veil is of its era, and we cannot judge it by todays standards, but while the authors capacity to detail human sensibilities may have been both modern and feminist in its time, the bare spelling out of human emotions makes for a style that is, in my mind, somewhat clunky and lacking in subtlety. Gender, sexuality, and history in the painted veil. The movie was stunning, so the next time i chose a book to read, i jumped at the painted veil.
Kitty may not be clever or deep, but she is beautiful and well bred. 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. The sisters in the french convent, for instance, are completely in character, as is the unresolved situation between kitty and walter. The painted veil chapter 1 princesskay hannibal tv. Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and liev schreiber appear in the leading roles. Somerset maugham, with a screenplay by john meehan, salka viertel, and edith fitzgerald, the film is about a woman who accompanies her new husband to china while he conducts medical. Kitty had reached the age of 25 as yet unmarried and when her younger sister had secured herself a. The painted veil vintage international kindle edition by. The altarpiece and the stations of the cross were painted by one of our sisters, soeur st. The sisters in the french convent, for instance, are completely in character, as is the unresolved. Yes, it was another lonely saturday night for entertaining sheila, and so, i did what i know and love. She is playful and goodnatured, though she has the same peaceful equanimity as the rest of the nuns. Jun 07, 2012 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. Like its name suggests, most if not all of its members are female.
The painted veil by w somerset maugham january 24, 20 by fleur in her world in book reports, classics club, filling in the gaps tags. Kittys family mother, father, and sister are distant echoes, for the most part. Lifting the veils in william somerset maughams the. The painted veil is a brilliant, morally uplifting drama set in the 1920s. The character has the same name in both the book and the movie. 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. Narrated in the third person pov but mostly of kittys, is pretty much a morality tale but is actually more complex. 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. Painted veil, the 1934 movie clip blithering idiot. Visually, the painted veil has all the trappings of a stuffy period drama, but nortons and wattss deft portrayals of imperfect, complicated characters give. 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. Published by vintage international on february 10, 2004 originally published april 1925.
I remember watching once the razors edge from the mid 1940s, filmed immediately after the publishing of the novel. Surely, i thought, my perception of the characters and plot will be coloured by the adaptation. The painted veil is a beautifully written affirmation of the human capacity to. The film makers have changed the ending, perhaps realising that modern. Jan 05, 2011 set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. Though i think kitty on the whole is a more interesting character and the painted veil a more compelling novel.
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 essays are academic essays for citation. First published in 1925, the painted veil recounts the moral awakening of a vain, careless young woman, kitty ms. Jan 12, 2007 the christian science monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, online daily edition, and email newsletters. 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 attending her younger sister. With greta garbo, herbert marshall, george brent, warner oland. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the painted veil vintage international. My personal opinion is that it was perhaps a mixture of both of those. Young, beautiful, and shallow, she marries walter fane after suddenly realizing she was running out of.
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 2006 american drama film directed by john curran. W somerst maugham comments i must confess that, though i loved the recent film adaptation of the painted veil, i have been circling my copy of the book for a long, long time. Shes now 25 and her plainer, younger sister is engaged. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. May 04, 20 my personal opinion is that it was perhaps a mixture of both of those.
When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic. Walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china who falls madly in love with her. 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.
The epidemic seems to be abating and the cool weather should see the end of it. The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. Several times in the novel, the death of a character is a liberation for those close to them. Colonial secretary with every possibility of one day ending up governor of the colony. The painted veil 2006 original theatrical trailer youtube. The sisters of the veil, also known as the veiled sisters or veiled ones is a secretive organization that practices ritual assassinations. The painted veil chapters 17 summary and analysis gradesaver. I dont expect filmmakers to be totally faithful to the book. The painted veil by w somerset maugham fleur in her world.
New sisters are on their way to replace those who have died. I only recently borrowed the book, and decided to put my theory to the test. The painted veil is a novel written by w somerset maugham in 1925. The painted veil vintage international kindle edition by maugham, w. Much to my chagrin, i cannot change the typeface of this posting. The ending too is completely different and much more likely. Kitty fane is a character wholl stay with me for a while. With the exception of a few changes, the film remains relatively close to the source material. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of.