My feeling is that he was better than good he was great. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call. 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. How frighteningly yellow were the faces that surrounded them. May 04, 20 2006 babies book broken daphne du maurier death edward norton emotional favell films heart hero human jack literature lover medicine movie rebecca the end the painted veil post navigation previous post cranford. Surely, i thought, my perception of the characters and plot will be coloured by the adaptation. Percy bysshe shelley sonnet lift not the painted veil. Gender, sexuality, and history in the painted veil.
I watched the film several years ago with a huge box of tissues to hand and loved it. Somerset maughams novel the painted veil doesnt happen in the book. I love the 2006 adaptation of the movie, and i read the book for the first time last year. This extraordinary movie deals with the ways in which a marriage in ruins is slowly and inexorably repaired as two disappointed individuals struggle in an alien. But there is a great depth of meaning in the novel, which is finely hiding from inattentive reader. The painted veil is a 2006 american drama film directed by john curran. First published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive. Somerset maugham and set against the visually stunning backdrop of china during one of its most dramatic periods of upheaval, the paint. Somerset maugham was one of the twentieth centurys most popular novelists as well as a celebrated playwright, critic, and short story writer. 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 screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 novel of the same title by w.
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 british medical doctor fights a cholera epidemic in a small chinese. It focuses on a young debutante named kitty garstin, who, after rejecting dozens of marriage proposals, finds herself marrying an eccentric doctor named walter fane. The painted veil study guide contains a biography of w.
This is the third film adaptation of the maugham book. I have just read one of the somerset maughams novels under the title of the painted veil, which he wrote in 1925. A contextual analysis asl literature in english introduction a veil. The painted veil created the most lively discussion our group has ever had. It is a story of love, betrayal, hatred, revenge and redemption. The painted veil discussion questions classics reading group. I only recently borrowed the book, and decided to put my theory to the test. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on the painted veil by w. 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. 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. Opinions about the characters varied widely and we talked as much about the authors intent as we did the story. In his preface to the novel maugham wrote, that he had felt a desire to use the story as an inspiration, but re. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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. Somerset maugham, which was first serialized in cosmopolitan and nashs magazine. Dec 20, 2006 first published in 1925, the painted veil recounts the moral awakening of a vain, careless young woman, kitty ms. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic.
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 novel also inspired a 2006 drama movie of the same name starring edward norton and naomi watts. Introduction the painted veil 2006 film in this assignment is going to tell the story of a young british couple who came to chinas rural life in the 1920s after they marriage. The painted veil is a beautifully written affirmation of the human capacity to grow, to change, and to forgive. 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. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young kitty fane. Somerset maugham and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Complexity of relationships the focus in painted veil. 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. At a wedding, a veil is usually white, representing the innocence of the person wearing it. The book has been adapted for the screen by ron nyswaner philadelphia. The painted veil chapters 17 summary and analysis gradesaver. The painted veil is a novel written by w somerset maugham in 1925. Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and liev schreiber appear in the leading roles.
Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. 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. Dec 04, 2019 the painted veil is a novel written by w somerset maugham in 1925. The movie is based on the 1925 novel of the british author w. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young. 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. The famous painted veil which reveals life in line 1 can be a metaphor for many things. The main characters of the book are kitty an walter fane. Character analysis and comparison with book and drama and focused essay and period piece the painted veil nathan 5. In the novel the veil is painted, which means that it is not an innocent veil the characters are wearing.
He made no further claim for himself than that he was a good storyteller. The painted veil completely changed my mind on this point. The painted veil remains an important interwar novel as it opened room for other writers to follow suit and sketch woman characters in such a way so as to normalise their being imperfect individuals, who should not be demonised for not meeting unrealistic societal standards of. 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. Published november 14th 2006 by vintage first published april 1925 more details. What is the significance of the title the painted veil. The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925. I hadnt read the painted veil before i saw the movie with ed norton and naomi watts. She married her husband because he seemend then a yong man of. With outstanding performances all around, a strong script and the lush, evocative cinematography of. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the painted veil by w. 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. Jan 18, 2015 the painted veil completely changed my mind on this point.
Somerset maugham, quote from the painted veil vaguely, as when you are studying a foreign language and read a page which at first you can make nothing of, till a word or a sentence gives you a clue. This amazing tale of the ultimate triumph of love will take you on a roller coaster ride of a range of human emotions love, betrayal, hatred, revenge and redemption none of which any less than other in intensity. I can dare say, that the plot of the book is very tricky. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the painted veil by w. The aim of this study is to see what medical students think about the role of spouse of a devoted medical doctor through the book reports of the painted veil 1925. The 53 medical students were asked to read maughams the painted veil and to have.
Maugham used this concept to show how all of society and the people living in it are tainted. Watts, who has been raised for a life of abject uselessness. Visually, the painted veil has all the trappings of a stuffy period drama, but nortons and wattss deft portrayals of imperfect, complicated characters give. The painted veil is a 1934 american drama directed by richard boleslawski and starring greta garbo. About 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. The painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. Kitty s mother was hard,cruel,managing,ambitious,parsimonious,stupid woman. Vintage classics, 1925, 214 pages first published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive. She doesnt love her husband so she soon falls in love and begins an affair with her husbands superior. It was short, a fast read, and possessed of an intriguing setting. It would amaze you that this is an excerpt from the painted veil a novel by somerset waugham published way back in 1925.
The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. From lift not the painted veil which those who live by persy bysshe shelley 17921822. Aug 22, 2008 character analysis and comparison with book and drama and focused essay and period piece the painted veil nathan 5. The painted veil remains an important interwar novel as it opened room for other writers to follow suit and sketch woman characters in such a way so as to normalise their being imperfect individuals, who should not be demonised for not meeting unrealistic societal standards of morality. May 04, 2011 in my opinion, the painted veil was a great choice for a book discussion group. The film was produced by hunt stromberg for metrogoldwynmayer. Apr 17, 2016 the storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the 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. After basically ruining her marriage with an affair, kitty accompanies her husband, walter, to meitanfu, a chinese province afflicted with a cholera epidemic.
Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The painted veil is the third remake of a 1920 story by w. An elegy on the death of a mad dog by oliver goldsmith 17281774. Walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china who falls madly in love with her. This is a story of a woman who suffers a lot in her life trying to find her way to peace. Its no surprise that one of the best scenes in the latest and third film iteration of w. Somerset maugham, quote from the painted veil if a man hasnt whats necessary to make a woman love him, its his fault, not hers. The painted veil is directed by john curran we dont live here anymore based on w. The storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel.
196 398 569 635 201 1512 282 451 1380 1500 408 223 51 706 23 1190 364 947 1244 539 551 1494 1357 148 939 779 673 133 292 1387 1442 1132 1053 985 546 677 1336 512 128 112 614 870 136