Olivia Manning (1908–1980)

The Spoilt City, the second book in The Balkan Trilogy, opens in the summer of 1940 shortly after the fall of France. Guy and Harriet Pringle have been living in Bucharest since the war began in September 1939. Romania welcomed British citizens at first, seeing the British and the French as their protectors during the war. But as these countries struggled against Germany’s gathering strength, Romania ceded territory and in September the government ultimately fell to a fascist coup. show more Suddenly the Pringles’ comfortable lifestyle – working at the university, dining out, enjoying the company of fellow Englishmen – fell apart. Most of their compatriots found a way out of Bucharest but Guy, ever the optimist, held fast to a sense of duty and continued lecturing at the university even as the student population dwindled.

In the midst of political turmoil is the story of a young couple who perhaps married too soon, and are gradually getting to know one another. Guy is consumed by his work, leaving Harriet to fend for herself most of the time. He is far too magnanimous, taking in “strays” who have nowhere else to go. He resists Harriet’s pleas to find them other accommodation, and is certain things will just work out somehow. But Harriet is stronger than she first appears, and shows herself able to act in a crisis. The last few chapters read like a thriller: will the Pringles leave Romania before all exit routes are blocked? The novel ends with more questions than answers, so of course I had to move directly to the third book in the trilogy. show less

Guy and Harriet arrive in Cairo, their personal situation as precarious as the city's, with Rommel's Akrika Corp seemingly closing in. Their marriage is under strain, as is Harriet's health, and once again they are in the midst of a shifting cast of characters, including the young Major, Simon, with whom Harriet climbs a pyramid and witnesses a distressing scene after a child is killed by an unexploded bomb. The quiet desperation of their lives, the arbitrary intrusion of death, the sense of show more youth being wasted in this limbo of fear and boredom when it isn't being snuffed out altogether, the haunting traumas of violent experiences, and Harriet's futile search for independence from Guy because Guy simply won't ever change, all form a compelling, even haunting portrait of life in wartime. show less

I read the final three installments in Olivia Manning's six book series as one book, [The Levant Trilogy]. The series begins with [The Balkan Trilogy] - read that first! - but do read these! I ended up absolutely loving them.

In The Levant Trilogy, Guy and Harriet Pringle are now in Egypt. There are some new characters, including Simon Boulderstone, a very young officer trying to navigate both becoming an adult and becoming part of a world war. I loved the addition of his story and thought show more it really rounded out the book. Guy and Harriet continue to have marital problems, with Guy going about his life without really including Harriet. He seems to assume she will always just be there waiting for him. At one point in, I think, the last volume of the six, he references being 25, and I thought - Oh! they are so young!! I think I had pictured them in their 30s for some reason, probably because the situations they are in are so adult and difficult.

During most of this trilogy, Harriet is ill with a stomach issue. She meets many new people in Egypt and makes some real friends, unlike in the Balkan trilogy. These people are developed in a much more satisfactory way and really add to the quality of the writing. In fact, I found from the first pages that The Levant Trilogy is a huge step up in the writing quality over The Balkan Trilogy. Manning had definitely become a more confident and skilled writer over the time of writing these six books. I highly enjoyed these and I'm so grateful to LT for bringing them to my attention! show less

Guy and Harriet Pringle arrive in Romania in September, 1939 just as Britain has declared war on Germany. Guy is a university lecturer; the couple met and married during the summer holiday. They quickly connect with the British expat community, with Guy in particular buoyed by the initial optimistic outlook on the war. It seems he’s friends with everyone, and gives all of them priority over Harriet. His most contentious relationships are with Sophie, a Romanian who once hoped to marry Guy, show more and Yakimov, a lost soul posing as a journalist but really just trying to make it from one meal to the next.

Guy and Harriet enjoy a lively social life, frequently dining with friends in some of Bucharest’s finest restaurants. And somehow Harriet manages to find her footing, developing a few friendships of her own and learning to stand her ground with Guy. But the strength of the German army is evident, and when the book closes with the fall of Paris in June 1941, fear and foreboding are in the air.

I’ve read several books about this period, usually set in Britain or France and focused on the local population. The Great Fortune felt unique to me for two reasons: it was an introduction to the history and politics of a country I know little about, and the expat point of view felt isolated and claustrophobic. I’m eager to see how their lives develop over the rest of the trilogy. show less