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. Hospital with the idea of practising medicine, but the success of his first 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. It is kittys love for her unborn child that pushes her to become a better person.
Walters resentment and kittys betrayal fall away and all thats left is a promise without condition or reward. The painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman. Hes invited to a party where he espies uppercrust socialite kitty garstin watts, and for walter, its love at first sight. The painted veil is a 2006 chineseamerican drama film directed by john curran. Kitty and walter are poorly matched and hate each other. The two leads were passionate about the project with both naomi watts and edward norton choosing to produce the film. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young kitty fane. Kitty, much to the chagrin of her mother, has declined marriage proposal from quite a few prospective gentlemen.
From a young age, her mother put a great amount of pressure. But i quickly got pulled into the story of kitty fane, a spoiled and frivolous young woman whose function in life, at least at the. Complexity of relationships the focus in painted veil movie. Here is the soundtrack kittys theme from the amazing 2006 movie the painted veil.
Somerset maugham was one of the twentieth centurys most popular novelists as well as a celebrated playwright, critic, and short story writer. Jun 19, 2012 the painted veil opens with kitty and walter standing in the chinese countryside, waiting for their escort to arrive and take them to the village, so walter can begin treating the cholera outbreak. Aug 18, 2017 the painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman. Garstin to greater achievements in his career and his daughters view him only as a source of income.
Somerset maugham, which was first serialized in cosmopolitan and nashs magazine. The painted veil is both a critical social commentary and deeply personal tale of. Doran publication date 1925 the painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. Several times in the novel, the death of a character is a liberation for those close to them. Walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china who falls madly. 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 was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan. In the introduction somerset maugham mentions that the idea for the novel. The book starts with kitty in bed with her lover staring in horror as someone tries the door handle and then the window of their room. The painted veil was an excellent introduction to somerset. 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. Kitty fane is the beautiful but shallow wife of walter, a bacteriologist stationed in.
The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Walter and kitty then return to their home where he watches her start to undress. When the couple relocates to shanghai, she begins an affair with a local diplomat. I really adore this movie peg for vintage themed prenup shot from the movie painted veil three and oliver definitely in my top five favorite movies now. Kitty is an englishwoman from a very proper family. They hear and then see kitty and walter looking in, but then go back to what they were doing. I like the idea of taking poetry into everyday places with a personal touch. When kitty returns home and her mother is dead, it is a liberation for both kitty and her father, though in.
The painted veil 2006 is an adaptation of the novel by w. The other simply doesnt see it because they dont feel it for that person. Jan 12, 20 from the motion picture the painted veil 2006. The ones who feel it show it the way they know how. Aug 11, 20 here is the soundtrack kitty s theme from the amazing 2006 movie the painted veil. Somerset maugham, which followed the disillusionment and growth of a shallow young socialite named kitty fane. To me our love was everything and you were my whole life. Maugham uses a thirdpersonlimited point of view in this story, where kitty garstin is the focal character. 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. I admired the potraiture of people as people complex. If a man hasnt whats necessary to make a woman love him, its his fault, not hers. Vintage classics, 1925, 214 pages first published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive. Still, the movie version of the painted veil seems nonplussed when it has to come to terms with the catholic mysticism that pervades the last third of the novel.
Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic. And complexity, notably how we, as a global civilization, deal with science fiction, taste, social media, the cities we live in, aesthetics, powerpoint, burkas, big tech, fullcontact sports, and other thorny topics. First published to a storm of protest, the painted veil is a classic story of a womans spiritual awakening kitty fane is the beautiful but shallow wife of walter, a bacteriologist stationed in hong kong. The idea for the novel began when maugham was studying italian under the tuition of the daughter of his landlady in tuscany before world war i he had by then decided to abandon a. What follows amounts to the beginning of a spiritual awakening for kitty. John curran the painted veil edward norton as walter fane and naomi watts as kitty fane. The painted veil william somerset maugham my book affair.
Mar 18, 2012 walter has volunteered to go and help kitty views this as a certain death sentence. The painted veil was first published in 1925 and is usually described as a strong story about a womans spiritual journey. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. 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. Is it supposed to be ambiguous whether walter or charlie was the father, or do you have reason to believe that its one or the other. Kittys love for charles is said to have degraded her pg.
Complexity of relationships the focus in painted veil. Between kitty and walter, simple love ends conflict. John curran, based on the book by maugham the painted veil. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
Story and summary the story revolves around kitty garstin, an outgoing upper middle class socialite and walter fane, an introvert bacteriologist and physician. Questions about somerset maughams novel the painted veil. 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. She doesnt love her husband so she soon falls in love and begins an affair with her husbands superior. Somerset maugham countryunited kingdom publisherheinemann george h. The painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. While the chinese characters remain mostly anonymous, either children or suffering disease victims, kitty and walters exclusive. The writing is wonderful, insightful and with a good level of suspense its a short book and now i want to read something else by somerset maugham straight away. Rated for suggestive themes, though nothing explicit. Still, if not a major feminist work, the book has literary interest.
With the exception of a few changes, the film remains relatively close to the source material. 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. But i quickly got pulled into the story of kitty fane, a spoiled and frivolous young woman whose function in life, at least at the outset of this tale, seemed to be primarily decorative. The painted veil is a beautifully written affirmation of the human capacity to grow, to change, and to forgive. Beginning in may 1925, it was serialised in the united kingdom in eight parts in. Walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china who falls madly in love with her.
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. As if a woman ever loved a man for his virtue, kitty mocked. The painted veil is the sort of moviestar vehicle that usually provides for outsized, capital a acting. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is. May 18, 2010 below are some questions to get us started. Throughout the novel kitty was developed significantly and she. Shallow, spoilt kitty garstin has married dr walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china just so that she can walk down the aisle before her. Kitty naomi watts has married middle class doctor walter edward norton for all the wrong reasons. For kitty and the other british characters, the chinese natives are not. The painted veil is the third remake of a 1920 story by w. A story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane who is forced to accompany her husband to the heart of a cholera epidemic. When walter finds out, he takes a job in a remote, cholerastricken chinese village as an act of vengeance.
To more pragmatic, modern eyes, kittys emotional growth appears minimal. Themed, novelty, and sculpted cakes honey crumb cake studio. In regards to charles townsend, kitty s lover, in the book i thought him to be a character similar to jack favell from rebecca. Jun 08, 2015 the painted veil 2006 is an adaptation of the novel by w. Walter lived, now he and kitty must put the past aside and learn to truly communicate if they ever hope to get along. Stories of travel and transformation are one of my favourites and the painted veil reminds me in that vein of the sheltering sky by paul bowles a story that. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call. The painted veil is the story of the beautiful, but lovestarved kitty fane. May 04, 2011 this was nowhere to be found in the painted veil, a work that almost seemed to have been written by a different person.
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. In the painted veil, love is not always a good thing. Who is the father of kittys child at the end of the. In politics and marriage, the painted veil suggests that relating from heart to heart mends the self. The painted veil by somerset maugham books the guardian. We wont necessarily discuss each of these questions in order or in so many words, but these are general ideas and themes for the discussion. Differences between the painted veil book vs movie page 1. Liked the story,also it gives one an idea of the countryside, travel and way of life in that era. The painted veil discussion questions classics reading group. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Kitty spies on waddington and his lover in bed lying on their sides, face to face, with waddingtons hand on the womans bare back. With outstanding performances all around, a strong script and the lush, evocative cinematography of onlocation china.
As an alternative, the kindle ebook is available now and can be read on any device. Kitty is again bored, even more so in the middle of nowhere. The painted veil of the novel suggests the appearance of daily life. Themed, novelty, and sculpted cakes 34 weeks of lead time required. This was nowhere to be found in the painted veil, a work that almost seemed to have been written by a different person. The painted veil, based more on the book than the film. Also, he explains in the preface that he got the idea for the plot from dantes. She is compelled by her awakening conscience to reassess her life and learn how to love. 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.
We see kitty and her fiveyearold boy at the end of the painted veil, but earlier in the film she told walter she didnt know who the father was. Maugham is the modern writer who has influenced me the most george orwell. The screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 novel of the same title by w. 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. Apart from that, i thought nothing of him as a character. Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and liev schreiber appear in the leading roles. I suspect well have plenty to talk about tomorrow night. Kitty fane is a shallow, materialistic daughter of a shallow, materialistic mother who henpecked kittys father, always seeking to improve their lot.