The painted veil book characters

I havent read the painted veil by maugham, but ive read some of his other books and admired his lack of sentimentality and avoidance of cliches. At first i was hesitant when i found out that the painted veil was a story set in hong kong and about british people instead of chinese people. The painted veil is a novel about love, betrayal, and selfsacrifice. 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 to the heart of a cholera epidemic. 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 the samenamed 1934 film starring greta garbo. Aug 20, 2009 obviously then, i wasted no time in buying somerset maughams the painted veil to see how differently the filmmakers had interpreted the story. Somerset maughams novel the painted veil doesnt happen in the book. 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. The painted veil book club kit omaha public library. 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. Garstin, and their respective relationships to kitty. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young kitty fane.

The painted veil discussion questions classics reading group. I dont think it was historically accurate for the time period but this allows carroll to keep a small cast of characters that are all very connected with one another. In this regard the movie rose in my estimation for the depth it added to flat characters in the book. Opinions about the characters varied widely and we talked as much about the authors intent as we did the story. 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.

Its no surprise that one of the best scenes in the latest and third film iteration of w. He was educated at kings school, canterbury, and at heidelberg university. China 1925, dr walter fane, kitty fane, the painted veil by w. The painted veil is a 2006 american drama film directed by john curran. In the novel the veil is painted, which means that it is not an innocent veil the characters are wearing. Kitty garstin is a shallow socialite who decides to marry boring bacteriologist walter fane when. 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. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. May 18, 2010 below are some questions to get us started. I suspect well have plenty to talk about tomorrow night. This love story has kitty meeting young, intelligent, shy and somewhat dull dr. Visually, the painted veil has all the trappings of a stuffy period drama, but nortons and wattss deft portrayals of imperfect, complicated characters give. Original score, cinematography a lock, editing, ad. Dymov is cuckolded by his wife, who considers him a boring and unimportant person.

Sep 28, 2015 the painted veil by somerset maugham this is the meanest book ive read in a long time. I had with this book some of the difficulties that are apt to befall an author. The painted veil is a novel written by maugham in1925. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, this beautifully written character study is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive. From a young age, her mother put a great amount of pressure on her to use her. In the book his story isnt really tied up yes, we see that he has used kitty again and doesnt care about her. He does not confront the two lovers, but he later forces kitty to either leave hong. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the.

Dec 20, 2006 its no surprise that one of the best scenes in the latest and third film iteration of w. 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. Maugham changed the characters names to forr, finally opting for the name fane in this 1925 first english publication in book form, which was printed in two runs of 4,000 copies each. 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. 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. The painted veil opens with a husband arriving home early to find his wife, kitty, the main character, in bed with his boss. I have just read one of the somerset maughams novels under the title of the painted veil, which he wrote in 1925.

May 04, 2011 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. Waddington, the mother superior, townsend, and even townsends wife are also sharply drawn and accessible characters. The story is largely set in hong kong, before shifting to mainland china, and centres on a troubled marriage between two young brits who are vastly different in personality, temperament and upbringing. Maugham used this concept to show how all of society and the people living in it are tainted. But in this case the characters were chosen to fit the story i gradually evolved. Ive asked myself if youre both here to commit suicide. However, as with most books character development was greater in the book in general. If i had read the book first, i might have liked the movie less.

The painted veil is a novel written by w somerset maugham in 1925. 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. 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. Plot summary somerset maugham uses a thirdperson limited, pointofview in this story, where kitty is the focal character. Kitty is an englishwoman from a very proper family. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call. The government bacteriologist in the british colony of hong kong. Dec 04, 2019 the painted veil is a novel written by w somerset maugham in 1925.

At a wedding, a veil is usually white, representing the innocence of the person wearing it. Every novel should have at least one character who changes and grows even half as much as this heroine. The painted veil by somerset maugham james reads books. First of all, you never have to twist my arm too bad to have me watch anything with edward norton in it. From lift not the painted veil which those who live by persy bysshe shelley 17921822. The painted veil 2006 is an adaptation of the novel by w. Walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china who falls madly in love with her. The painted veil character descriptions for teachers. Another movie that was better than the book was the godfather and the godfather part ii. First published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and 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. Which goes to explain why she is easy meat for the tall, handsome charlie townsend to pick up and seduce. With naomi watts, edward norton, liev schreiber, catherine an.

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. 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. Somerset maugham and stars edward norton and naomi watts. Apart from that, i thought nothing of him as a character. Response must be less that 100,000 characters thank you for your feedback back to top. The novel also inspired a 2006 drama movie of the same name starring edward norton and naomi watts. I think he is a brilliant actor and he came through again in. Apr 17, 2016 the storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel. Maugham is comparatively respectful of the foreign setting he writes for his characters and carefully details the hypocrisies of european imperialism and colonial societies.

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. Jan 28, 2016 esfp characters include alexei vronsky anna karenina, dudley dursley, ron weasley, and sirius black harry potter, kitty fane the painted veil, daisy buchannan the great gatsby, rue the hunger games, lydia bennet pride and prejudice, jamie lannister game of thrones, and peregrin took the lord of the rings. The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925. 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 eponymous novel by w. With the exception of a few changes, the film remains relatively close to the source material. The painted veil is a beautifully written affirmation of the human capacity to grow, to change, and to forgive. Stripped of the british society of her youth and the small but effective society she fought so hard to. Somerset maugham, which followed the disillusionment and growth of a shallow young socialite named kitty fane. Only yesterday i borrowed the book again because i wanted to write a brief comparison between the two. But it is the depiction of characters that is most perplexing. Differences between the painted veil book vs movie page 1.

Doran publication date 1925 the painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Book, movie and radio program all recommended i dont know what it is about this story that i love, but i found the idea fascinating, the characters interesting and welldeveloped and the portrayal very beautifully done in both movie and radio show. 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. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to a remote region of china ravaged by a cholera epidemic. Somerset maugham novel and the painted veil, first published in 1925, is regarded as one of his best.

Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and liev schreiber appear in the leading roles. The painted veil is the best movie no one is talking about. This character is a bacteriologist, who becomes engaged and marries quickly while visiting his homeland of england on vacation from work in hong. Aug 18, 2017 the painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman. The painted veil william somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten. 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.

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. 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. The painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman. It was short, a fast read, and possessed of an intriguing setting. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful, but lovestarved kitty fane. How can such a book be representative of a huge country like china. Two great performances, one of the years best screenplays, nicely directed, a beautiful film thanks to the great cinematography and an enjoyable cinematic experience. Walter fane, whose forte is the study of infectious diseases, and the convenient marriage that she finds herself committed to. I love the 2006 adaptation of the movie, and i read the book for the first time last year.

There are many changes, but both the book and the film are exquisite works in themselves. Response must be less that 100,000 characters thank you for your feedback. Cakes and ale,the painted veil,liza of lambeth,razors edge,theatre,moon and sixpence. Beginning in may 1925, it was serialised in the united kingdom in eight parts in. How frighteningly yellow were the faces that surrounded them. The painted veil is the story of the beautiful but shallow young kitty fane, who marries for money rather than love.

The painted veil created the most lively discussion our group has ever had. Whats the difference between the painted veil the book and the painted veil the movie. The painted veil is fresh air for anyone hungering for a literary classic that takes a reflective and selfcritical perspective of european colonialism. Prior to its publication in book form, the painted veil had appeared in serial form. Walter and kitty barely spoke as they travelled by chair through the inscrutable chinese hinterland.

Around the world in 80 books share book recommendations. Having now seen the movie i have to say, no matter what you thought of the book, the movie is worth seeing. 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 study guide contains a biography of w. Nov 14, 2006 116 of 76 results for painted veil book skip to main search results. The painted veil is the beautifully told story of one selfabsorbed woman and what it takes for her to discover joy in loving others. Somerset maugham countryunited kingdom publisherheinemann george h. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the painted veil by w. Early on in somerset maughams novel, the painted veil, one of the more interesting but peripheral characters, a district commissioner named waddington, stationed upcountry from british colonial hong kong at meitan fu, an outpost plagued by cholera intones.

Your students can use these discussion questions to navigate these themes, as well as their own thoughts on the novel. This is a love story set in the 1920s that tells the story of a young english couple, walter fane edward norton, a middle class doctor and kitty naomi watts, an upperclass woman, who get married for the wrong reasons and relocate to shanghai, where she falls in love with someone else. It is a story of love, betrayal, hatred, revenge and redemption. What is the significance of the title the painted veil. Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The painted veil william somerset maugham my book affair. Kittys awakening in the painted veil masters thesis. The myersbriggs types of 202 fictional characters book riot. W somerset maugham the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan. The painted veil should get 4 or 5 oscar nominations. The two leads were passionate about the project with both naomi watts and edward norton choosing to produce the film. Compare and contrast the characters of walter and mr.