Olivia Manning

I just finished the Balkan Trilogy and in the first few pages of the succeeding Levant Trilogy, she does something lovely: a Brit soldier in Cairo finds that the Brit soldiers all look alike to him...

Dear RickHarsch, may I rave a little about The balkan trilogy by Olivia Manning and its successor
The Levant trilogy

I 'read' WWII history, and when I find fiction on that topic, which is to mind great, I am chuffed.

And when I remember my 'Late Mum - 23 years ago now', saying she liked this story and loved and disliked a character at at the same time, I might be onto something great. She didn't read much, but when I gave it to her, she finished it very quickly.

I recon. the 2 trilogies are great. I read them a long time ago and you have inspired me to re-read at least the "Balkan Trilogy".

Sorry if I'm not making too much sense, but you have triggered a memory meme :-)

Thanks, RickHarsch.

Guido.

The thanks have to be traced back through various skeins, I think TC Murr being the final 'vote' before I obtained the books.

After a few pages of the Levant, I have the impression that her writing is better there (not that it wasn't fine in the first--she really was great at lodging a character in the mind).

Anyway, based on the title BT and the number of times I saw it, the reason I hadn't yet got to it was only the rather banal descriptions I found, so that I couldn't finally decide yes, I will try it. I'm glad I did. Beyond other factors, that it is all delivered through the lens of a woman was refreshing.

There's a succeeding Levant trilogy????? Good news.

Cairo, Jerusalem, Somewhere in Syria

Loved The Balkan Trilogy; I enjoyed The Levant Trilogy but not as much as the Balkan.

Hey R in NYC, I am already fashioning a view of the Levant that makes it better than the Balkan, don't ruin it...

Many people like it better, Rick,so it may just be me, but don't read my review if you want me to not "ruin" it!

Dear rebeccanyc,

I did indeed read Your review of the Levant Trilogy" but didn't notice 'much' of a preferance for one T over the other.

Please explain? (Sorry, that phrase in Australia does have a few rotten connotations re. politics, not intended here at all! This note was only for any Aussies reading this post)

Guido, I don't want to go into detail because I don't want to spoil Rick's reading of it. When he finishes, I'll be happy to say more!