To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Dec 20, 2006 first published in 1925, the painted veil recounts the moral awakening of a vain, careless young woman, kitty ms. My feeling is that he was better than good he was great. The painted veil soundtrack, composed by alexandre desplat. The painted veil study guide contains a biography of w.
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 upperclass woman, who get married for the wrong reasons and relocate to shanghai, where she falls in love with someone else. In the novel the veil is painted, which means that it is not an innocent veil the characters are wearing. Vintage classics, 1925, 214 pages first published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the painted veil by w. Apr 23, 20 amazon link i recently finished reading the veil by blake k healy. Watts, who has been raised for a life of abject uselessness. Aug 18, 2017 the painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman. At a wedding, a veil is usually white, representing the innocence of the person wearing it. The storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel. 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. To more pragmatic, modern eyes, kittys emotional growth appears minimal. 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.
Meitanfu is a chinese province that is afflicted with a cholera epidemic that has claimed the lives of a. Lift not the painted veil which those who live poem by. 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. The painted veil essays are academic essays for citation. So weve decided to keep guardian journalism free for all. Gender, sexuality, and history in the painted veil. Maugham uses a thirdpersonlimited point of view in this story, where kitty garstin is the focal character. The book filled in many of the characters personality quirks, clarifies kittys home life causing her to impulsively marry walter. The movie is based on the 1925 novel of the british author w. While discussing books recently, one of my friends highly recommended somerset maughams the painted veil. Books similar to the painted veil meet your next favorite book.
The painted veil was first published in 1925 and is usually described as a strong story about a womans spiritual journey. Somerset maugham, 9780099286875, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. What is the significance of the title the painted veil. He made no further claim for himself than that he was a good storyteller. I loved the film and have been meaning to read the book for a while. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Her male companion charles townsend assures her that it must be one of the chinese servants, since walter never comes back from the laboratory this early in the afternoon. 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 the sort of moviestar vehicle that usually provides for outsized, capital a acting. The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. I have just read one of the somerset maughams novels under the title of the painted veil, which he wrote in 1925. Sophie wards uninflected reading is competent if not compelling. Still, if not a major feminist work, the book has literary interest. The painted veil discussion questions classics reading group. 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. Depending on the study guide provider sparknotes, shmoop, etc. The title is a reference to the shelley sonnet lift not the painted veil which those who live. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. The main characters of the book are kitty an walter fane. Complexity of relationships the focus in painted veil movie.
The painted veil is the third remake of a 1920 story by w. Kittys mother was hard,cruel,managing,ambitious,parsimonious,stupid woman. In my opinion, the painted veil was a great choice for a book discussion group. The famous painted veil which reveals life in line 1 can be a metaphor for many things. The painted veil differences between the book and the film. 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. Kitty garstin cries out in shock, certain that someone just tried to open the door of the bedroom. 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. May 04, 2011 in my opinion, the painted veil was a great choice for a book discussion group. First published in 1925, the painted veil recounts the moral awakening of a vain, careless young woman, kitty ms. 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 the outside.
Ive seen a lot of flaky stuff on the subject of the unseen realm his book is not like that at all. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young kitty fane. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. While the chinese characters remain mostly anonymous, either children or suffering disease victims, kitty and walters exclusive. When he uncovers her infidelity, in an act of vengeance. 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. Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. To combat the darkness, armor is donned, a shell is spawned, a veil is placed on brow the painted veil. Maugham used this concept to show how all of society and the people living in it are tainted.
The painted veil book summary, the painted veil is a novel by british author w. The main character, kitty, has been groomed and pushed all her life by her mother to marry a suitable man. Kitty fane is a beautiful, vain, upperclass british woman unhappily married to walter fane, a bacteriologist working in hong kong. 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. Beginning in may 1925, it was serialised in the united kingdom in eight parts in. I love the 2006 adaptation of the movie, and i read the book for the first time last year. 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. An elegy on the death of a mad dog by oliver goldsmith 17281774. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him. The painted veil is constructed by society and bound to skull at birth.
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 question and answer section for the painted veil is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china who falls madly in love with her. From lift not the painted veil which those who live by persy bysshe shelley 17921822. 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. The painted veil 2006 the painted veil 2006 the painted veil 2006 the image could not be loaded. 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. Fascinating look at these characters, and how people rationalize their behavior, even if it involves hurt and heartbreak when reality sets in. 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. She doesnt love her husband so she soon falls in love and begins an affair with her husbands superior. 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 opening chapter of persepolis describes the implementation of the veil policy in iran. It is a strange amalgam of stuffs, mostly self deceptions and illusions, misconceptions and delusions that permit man to get through the day without falling to his knees. Somerset maugham, which was first serialized in cosmopolitan and nashs magazine. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call. He teaches at the bethel atlanta school of supernatural ministry. The painted veil is a novel written by w somerset maugham in 1925. Complexity of relationships the focus in painted veil. The book is set in the united kingdom and hong kong. Amazon link i recently finished reading the veil by blake k healy. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the painted veil by w. The novel also inspired a 2006 drama movie of the same name starring edward norton and naomi watts. Only yesterday i borrowed the book again because i wanted to write a brief comparison between the two. 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.
Percy bysshe shelley sonnet lift not the painted veil. Somerset maugham the painted veil see other formats. The painted veil 1934 film, directed by ryszard boleslawski. After the populist 1979 islamic revolution, during which the westernized monarch, called the shah, is overthrown in favor of an islamic republic, the new government becomes increasingly religious and oppressive and makes it obligatory for women and girls to wear a veil that covers most of their faces. 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. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him more. 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 summary and analysis free book notes. 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. Vintage classics, 1925, 214 pages first published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation. With outstanding performances all around, a strong script and the lush, evocative cinematography of onlocation china. The painted veil summary and analysis of chapters 17. Differences between the painted veil book vs movie page 1.
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. It is a story of love, betrayal, hatred, revenge and redemption. Somerset maughams the painted veil is easily the best book ive. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is. The painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman.
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