Olivia Manning Books in Order

Olivia Manning CBE is a celebrated British novelist, poet, writer, and reviewer. Her fiction and non-fiction, often detailing journeys and personal odysseys, are set primarily in England, Ireland, Europe, and the Middle East. With a unique blend of personal experience and imaginative writing, her books are renowned for their artistic eye and vivid descriptions of place. Married to R.D. Smith in 1939, Manning's experiences as a British Council wife in Bucharest, Greece, Egypt, and Palestine during World War II profoundly influenced her writing. Her magnum opus, the six novels collectively known as Fortunes of War, comprises The Balkan Trilogy and The Levant Trilogy. Though she achieved widespread recognition posthumously with the 1987 television adaptation of Fortunes of War, Manning's writing has continued to captivate readers with its depth and nuance.