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Product Description
The Balkan Trilogy is the story of a marriage and of a war, a vast, teeming, and complex masterpiece in which Olivia Manning brings the uncertainty and adventure of civilian existence under political and military siege to vibrant life. Manning’s focus is not the battlefield but the café and kitchen, the bedroom and street, the fabric of the everyday world that has been irrevocably changed by war, yet remains unchanged.
At the heart of the trilogy are newlyweds Guy and Harriet Pringle, who arrive in Bucharest—the so-called Paris of the East—in the fall of 1939, just weeks after the German invasion of Poland. Guy, an Englishman teaching at the university, is as wantonly gregarious as his wife is introverted, and Harriet is shocked to discover that she must share her adored husband with a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Other surprises follow: Romania joins the Axis, and before long German soldiers overrun the capital. The Pringles flee south to Greece, part of a group of refugees made up of White Russians, journalists, con artists, and dignitaries. In Athens, however, the couple will face a new challenge of their own, as great in its way as the still-expanding theater of war.
At the heart of the trilogy are newlyweds Guy and Harriet Pringle, who arrive in Bucharest—the so-called Paris of the East—in the fall of 1939, just weeks after the German invasion of Poland. Guy, an Englishman teaching at the university, is as wantonly gregarious as his wife is introverted, and Harriet is shocked to discover that she must share her adored husband with a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Other surprises follow: Romania joins the Axis, and before long German soldiers overrun the capital. The Pringles flee south to Greece, part of a group of refugees made up of White Russians, journalists, con artists, and dignitaries. In Athens, however, the couple will face a new challenge of their own, as great in its way as the still-expanding theater of war.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The British author of "Fortunes of War", Olivia Manning, produced this massive saga (three separate books) after living through the opening of WWII in Romania, where her husband was teaching English literature for the British Council; and later as the two became refugees in Greece.. The autobiographic novel impressively evokes the expectant and eventually, paranoid, living environment as the Nazis were gradually closing in politically and militarily on the states of the Balkans. Manning's story succeeds best when it describes the environment of the times and places that are its context. It is less successful when it looks (seemingly endlessly, at times) at the state of the marriage of the book's two principal characters, Harriet and Guy Pringle. Whether the author is being self-critical or making a comment about the nature of the British character in general, she gives the reader little reason to feel sympathy for many of the long parade of characters that inhabit the three sections of this novel. She apparently witnessed little human nobility in her own WW II adventures, but must have seen plenty of self-absorption, venality and petty jealously. In any event, there is no scarcity of these sins in "Fortunes..."
There are some wonderful observations about war and humans under stress to be found here. Pondering her status as a refugee in Greece--a place that she is quite taken with, but cannot really enjoy--Harriet Pringle concludes that "War meant a perpetual postponement of life..." It also means continual hunger and fear. Manning documents these realities brilliantly throughout the story.
Overall, this weighty tale is worth taking on because of its evocation of the period's realities. The less than stellar personal qualities and behavior of the book's characters must be endured to enjoy the better parts. There is one possible exception in the person of Prince Yakimov, a Russian-Irish Brit, who is an inveterate mooch, but also instinctive survivor. The self-pitying Yakimov brings both humor and pathos that keeps the saga from becoming too leaden and otherwise completely unsympathetic, at strategic moments.
This isn't a book for everyone. But if you are tolerant of having to mine for small flecks of gold and occasional nuggets, it's worth the effort.
There are some wonderful observations about war and humans under stress to be found here. Pondering her status as a refugee in Greece--a place that she is quite taken with, but cannot really enjoy--Harriet Pringle concludes that "War meant a perpetual postponement of life..." It also means continual hunger and fear. Manning documents these realities brilliantly throughout the story.
Overall, this weighty tale is worth taking on because of its evocation of the period's realities. The less than stellar personal qualities and behavior of the book's characters must be endured to enjoy the better parts. There is one possible exception in the person of Prince Yakimov, a Russian-Irish Brit, who is an inveterate mooch, but also instinctive survivor. The self-pitying Yakimov brings both humor and pathos that keeps the saga from becoming too leaden and otherwise completely unsympathetic, at strategic moments.
This isn't a book for everyone. But if you are tolerant of having to mine for small flecks of gold and occasional nuggets, it's worth the effort.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
12 reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
British expats caught in the opening of WWII
30 May 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The British author of "Fortunes of War", Olivia Manning, produced this massive saga (three separate books) after living through the opening of WWII in Romania, where her husband was teaching English literature for the British Council; and later as the two became refugees in Greece.. The autobiographic novel impressively evokes the expectant and eventually, paranoid, living environment as the Nazis were gradually closing in politically and militarily on the states of the Balkans. Manning's story succeeds best when it describes the environment of the times and places that are its context. It is less successful when it looks (seemingly endlessly, at times) at the state of the marriage of the book's two principal characters, Harriet and Guy Pringle. Whether the author is being self-critical or making a comment about the nature of the British character in general, she gives the reader little reason to feel sympathy for many of the long parade of characters that inhabit the three sections of this novel. She apparently witnessed little human nobility in her own WW II adventures, but must have seen plenty of self-absorption, venality and petty jealously. In any event, there is no scarcity of these sins in "Fortunes..."
There are some wonderful observations about war and humans under stress to be found here. Pondering her status as a refugee in Greece--a place that she is quite taken with, but cannot really enjoy--Harriet Pringle concludes that "War meant a perpetual postponement of life..." It also means continual hunger and fear. Manning documents these realities brilliantly throughout the story.
Overall, this weighty tale is worth taking on because of its evocation of the period's realities. The less than stellar personal qualities and behavior of the book's characters must be endured to enjoy the better parts. There is one possible exception in the person of Prince Yakimov, a Russian-Irish Brit, who is an inveterate mooch, but also instinctive survivor. The self-pitying Yakimov brings both humor and pathos thats keeps the saga from becoming too leaden and otherwise completely unsympathetic, at strategic moments.
This isn't a book for everyone. But if you are tolerant of having to mine for small flecks of gold and occasional nuggets, it's worth the effort.
There are some wonderful observations about war and humans under stress to be found here. Pondering her status as a refugee in Greece--a place that she is quite taken with, but cannot really enjoy--Harriet Pringle concludes that "War meant a perpetual postponement of life..." It also means continual hunger and fear. Manning documents these realities brilliantly throughout the story.
Overall, this weighty tale is worth taking on because of its evocation of the period's realities. The less than stellar personal qualities and behavior of the book's characters must be endured to enjoy the better parts. There is one possible exception in the person of Prince Yakimov, a Russian-Irish Brit, who is an inveterate mooch, but also instinctive survivor. The self-pitying Yakimov brings both humor and pathos thats keeps the saga from becoming too leaden and otherwise completely unsympathetic, at strategic moments.
This isn't a book for everyone. But if you are tolerant of having to mine for small flecks of gold and occasional nuggets, it's worth the effort.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
The Balkans Trilogy
10 May 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I saw Fortunes of War with Emma Thompson and her ex-husband Kenneth Branaugh. It so intrigued me that I decided to read the book(s) by Olivia Manning. Olivia Manning captured the essence of refugees living overseas during the time of WWII beginning in Bucharest. One of my favorite characters other than Harriet Pringle was Prince Yakimov - our dear Yaki :) Emma Thompson portrayed Harriet exactly as the book - she is one of my favorite actresses. Kenneth Branaugh also portrayed Guy Pringle as written, in fact, too well I thought, as if he was made for the part.
I highly recommend reading the book as you get to know the characters better that way. Olivia Manning is an excellent writer and I will be reading more of her books.
I highly recommend reading the book as you get to know the characters better that way. Olivia Manning is an excellent writer and I will be reading more of her books.
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful
not really NEW, but well worth reading
14 Mar 2010
Format:Paperback
I read this book back when Kenneth Branagh was still married to Emma Thompson. The two of them made a mini-series version of this for Masterpiece Theater that was wonderful, and I hunted down the book back then. It was wonderful also, an engrossing story of the WWII in the Balkans. ALso the story of a couple of British newlyweds far from home. I recommend it AND the video Fortunes of War. Glad this is back in print, although I still have my copy from before.
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