Manning, Olivia 1911–1980

Manning was an English novelist and short story writer. The Sum of Things, completed before her death, is the final volume of her Levant Trilogy which is, in turn, a continuation of her Balkan Trilogy. Critics praise Manning's skill in evoking the World War II atmosphere of the Middle East through the experiences of the British expatriate community. (See also Contemporary Authors, Vols. 5-8, rev. ed.; obituary, Vol. 101.)