Though i think kitty on the whole is a more interesting character and the painted veil a more compelling novel. Of all these the richest in beauty is the beautiful life. Lift not the painted veil is a popular poem in shared reading and here a. Somerset maugham novel was the source for the fairtomiddling greta garbo vehicle the painted veil. Whats the difference between the painted veil the book and the painted veil the movie. Only yesterday i borrowed the book again because i wanted to write a brief comparison between the. 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. In the book his story isnt really tied up yes, we see that he has used kitty again and doesnt care about her. How frighteningly yellow were the faces that surrounded them. Garstin, and their respective relationships to kitty. I admired the potraiture of people as people complex. This is the third film adaptation of the maugham book. I love the 2006 adaptation of the movie, and i read the book for the first time last year. Jan 24, 2015 i liked the book much much better than the movie as the novel reveals the complexity of kittys emotions.
May 04, 20 in regards to charles townsend, kittys lover, in the book i thought him to be a character similar to jack favell from rebecca. Her philosophical journey is about half a mile from not caring for anyone but herself to believing she can raise her own daughter differently. Craddock, another work by maugham, the character of bertha vaguely reminds me of kitty. In all honesty, from the beginning of the story to the very end, i did not like kitty one bit. The pictures they paint, the music they compose, the books they write, and the lives they lead. Apr 17, 2016 the storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel. Your students can use these discussion questions to navigate these themes, as well as their own thoughts on the novel. May 04, 2011 in my opinion, the painted veil was a great choice for a book discussion group. Assistant colonial secretary with every possibility of one day ending up governor of the colony. In a situation comparable to the plotlines of most of her silent films, garbo is.
Ending spoiler for the painted veil 2006, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. It sweeps you up in the characters journey from the beginning, and keeps you riveted from moment to moment. 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. I knew one who had lifted ithe sought, for his lost heart was tender. The ending is a bit of a let down the 2006 movie adaptation starring. Jan 19, 2007 t he painted veil is a film that is in love with the idea of love. In the novel the veil is painted, which means that it is not an innocent veil the characters are wearing. The painted veil is a novel written by w somerset maugham in 1925.
Compare and contrast the characters of walter and mr. Painted veil, the 1934 movie clip blithering idiot. Sep 28, 2014 based on the 1925 novel of the same title by w. The painted veil is a novel about love, betrayal, and selfsacrifice. The screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 novel of the same title by w. Opinions about the characters varied widely and we talked as much about the authors intent as we did the story. This summary of the painted veil includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. Edward norton and naomi watts in the painted veil 2006. The painted veil of the novel suggests the appearance of daily life. My main disappointment is that i never could feel any emotion for kitty. Jun 07, 2007 i finished reading the painted veil and felt a little let down.
My feeling is that he was better than good he was great. The painted veil dvd the kansas city public library. Sep 27, 2000 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 tale of kitty naomi watts. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the. His expression was slightly sarcastic and now that kitty knew him better she. 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 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 vintage international kindle edition by maugham, w. Somerset maughams the painted veil is easily the best book ive read all. It was silly of us to look for qualities in each other that we never had. The painted veil chapters 17 summary and analysis gradesaver. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
I have just read one of the somerset maughams novels under the title of the painted veil, which he wrote in 1925. Differences between the painted veil book vs movie page 1. Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and liev schreiber appear in the leading roles. The painted veil 2006 ending spoiler movie mistakes. More quotes from the painted veil trivia shot on location in shanghai, in southern guangxi provinces green hills along the li river, and on beijing sound stages, it is also the first western movie to be allowed to shoot entirely in china for decades, as stated by both the director, john curran, and npr. The painted veil is a 2006 american drama film directed by john curran. Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and. 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 study guide contains a biography of 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 novel also inspired a 2006 drama movie of the same name starring edward norton and naomi watts. He made no further claim for himself than that he was a good storyteller.
Maugham uses a thirdpersonlimited point of view in this story, where kitty garstin is the focal character. The 2006 movie starring naomi watts and edward norton is very pretty. The painted veil created the most lively discussion our group has ever had. The painted veil is the sort of moviestar vehicle that usually provides for outsized, capital a acting. The painted veil vintage international and millions of other books are. The only characters in the novel that wear white, literally speaking, are the nuns. The painted veil vintage international kindle edition by. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the painted veil vintage international. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is. Aug 18, 2017 the painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman.
The storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel. The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925. 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. Whats interesting is how kittys personal growth takes on more than how she behaves, but helps her rediscover her husband who she views for most of the film as a petty weak man. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. It comes from the poem by percy bysshe shelley, which describes the unreality of the world and the perhaps unsuccessful quest of a seeker to find some truth in it. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The painted veil 2006 i was surprised to learn from wikipedia that there had been two movie versions of the painted veil before this one, including a 1934 film starring greta garbo. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of. Somerset maugham book, movie and radio program on the steamer that took them up the western river walter read incessantly, but at mealtimes he endeavored to make some kind of conversation. It is a story of love, betrayal, hatred, revenge and redemption. Gender, sexuality, and history in the painted veil.
The painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. Somerset maughams novel the painted veil doesnt happen in the book. The painted veil is a beautifully written affirmation of the human capacity to grow, to change, and to forgive. Somerset maugham novel and the painted veil, first published. This quotation is in keeping with the protofeminist theme of the novel. Its no surprise that one of the best scenes in the latest and third film iteration of w. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. A young english couple, walter a middle class doctor and kitty, an upperclass woman, get married for all the wrong reasons and relocate to shanghai.
He forced his lips to smile and his voice retained the gentle, persuasive tone. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the painted veil by w. Maugham used this concept to show how all of society and the people living in it are tainted. Walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china who falls madly in love with her. 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.
The painted veil has the ingredients of a great film, including cinematography alternatively lush and parched and highcaliber actors. The painted veil essays are academic essays for citation. When walter discovers her infidelity, in an act of vengeance, he accepts a job in a remote village in china that is being ravaged by a deadly epidemic. More mistakes in the painted veil trivia shot on location in shanghai, in southern guangxi provinces green hills along the li river, and on beijing sound stages, it is also the first western movie to be allowed to shoot entirely in china for decades, as stated by both the director, john curran, and npr. In his preface to the novel maugham wrote, that he had felt a desire to use the story as an inspiration, but rewrote it and made a more modern version of it. 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. Published november 14th 2006 by vintage first published april 1925 more details. Nov 14, 2008 walter and kitty barely spoke as they travelled by chair through the inscrutable chinese hinterland. The painted veil gnossienne 1 classical piano duration. 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.