School for Love

Anyone who appreciates superior writers, vivid characterizations and the intersection of history and literature and who has not yet discovered and read any of Olivia Manning's novels must rectify this omission. Of the highest recommendation is Manning's Balkan Trilogy, Levant Trilogy and "School for Love" as well as a fascinating biography about the author written and published after her death. From the Balkan Trilogy, the first novel ("The Great Fortune") is masterfully written. The BBC series based on the two trilogies (Fortunes of War, with Emma Thompson) is a treasure. The recent new edition of "School for Love" with a foreword by Jane Smiley is a must for readers and collectors of fine literature.