The Great Fortune

The Great Fortune follows newlyweds Guy and Harriet Pringle as they arrive in Bucharest in 1939, where Guy takes up a teaching position at the university. The novel is the first installment of Manning's acclaimed Fortunes of War series, based on her own experiences as a British expatriate during World War II. The story captures life in Romania during the early months of the war through the experiences of the British expatriate community. Central characters include Prince Yakimov, a down-on-his-luck Russian émigré, and various journalists, academics, and diplomats who gather at the English bar of the Athene Palace Hotel. Set against the backdrop of Romania's increasing political tension, the narrative tracks the personal and professional lives of the characters from September 1939 to June 1940. Manning creates a detailed portrait of Bucharest society as the war in Europe intensifies. The novel examines themes of displacement and adaptation, exploring how individuals maintain their identities and relationships when surrounded by mounting uncertainty. The work stands as both a historical record and an exploration of marriage under pressure.

Readers appreciate Manning's detailed portrayal of pre-WWII Bucharest and the complex relationship between newlyweds Guy and Harriet. Many note the author's skill at capturing the tense atmosphere as war approaches, with one reader calling it "a snapshot of a specific time and place that feels completely authentic." Common criticisms include the slow pacing, especially in the first third, and some find the characters unlikeable. Multiple reviews mention struggling to connect with Guy, describing him as "naive" and "frustratingly passive." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (90+ ratings) From reviews: "Manning excels at depicting the expatriate community's isolation" - LibraryThing user "Rich in historical detail but moves like molasses" - Amazon reviewer "The strength is in the sense of impending doom as the characters try to maintain normalcy" - Goodreads reviewer "More about atmosphere than plot" - Amazon reader

Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky Chronicles life in France during German occupation through multiple perspectives of civilians adapting to wartime, delivering a similar focus on society under mounting political pressure.

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis by Giorgio Bassani Documents the lives of Jewish aristocrats in 1930s Italy through their final days of normality before WWII, capturing the same sense of impending change that permeates Manning's work.

Troubles by J. G. Farrell Presents an Anglo-Irish hotel during Ireland's struggle for independence, mirroring Manning's examination of expatriate life amid political upheaval.

The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen Depicts wartime London through the story of a woman confronting betrayal, sharing Manning's interest in relationships tested by war.

Transit by Anna Seghers Follows refugees in Marseille attempting to secure passage out of France during WWII, echoing Manning's themes of displacement and survival in wartime Europe.

🔹 Manning wrote The Great Fortune while living in a small London hotel room in 1960, drawing heavily from her own experiences as a newlywed in wartime Bucharest two decades earlier. 🔹 Prince Yakimov's character was based on a real Russian prince Manning met in Bucharest, who similarly lived off the generosity of others and claimed distant connections to European royalty. 🔹 The novel's city scenes of 1939 Bucharest were so accurately portrayed that Romanian historians have used the book as a reference for understanding pre-war urban life in their capital. 🔹 When adapting The Fortunes of War series for television in 1987, the BBC cast Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson as Guy and Harriet Pringle during their first year of marriage. 🔹 The British Council, which employed both Manning's husband and her fictional character Guy, was viewed with suspicion by Romanian authorities who believed it to be a front for British intelligence operations.