Olivia Manning Standalone Novels books in order

Olivia Manning's standalone novels span from 1937 to 1974 and include her early fiction, a historical narrative about the rescue of Emin Pasha, and several novels set in the Middle East and Britain.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Wind Changes 1937 Olivia Manning Buy
2 The Remarkable Expedition 1947 Olivia Manning Buy
3 Artist Among The Missing 1949 Olivia Manning Buy
4 The Dreaming Shore 1950 Olivia Manning Buy
5 School for Love 1951 Olivia Manning Buy
6 A Different Face 1953 Olivia Manning Buy
7 The Doves of Venus 1955 Olivia Manning Buy
8 The Play Room 1969 Olivia Manning Buy
9 The Rain Forest 1974 Olivia Manning Buy

Olivia Manning published nine standalone novels between 1937 and 1974. Her debut, The Wind Changes (1937), is set during the Irish Civil War, while later novels such as School for Love (1951) and A Different Face (1953) move between the Middle East and England. The Remarkable Expedition (1947) stands apart as a narrative retelling of Henry Morton Stanley’s expedition to rescue Emin Pasha in the 1880s.

Several of these novels share the same quiet, observational style that defines the Fortunes of War sequence. School for Love, set in wartime Jerusalem, and The Doves of Venus (1955), set in postwar London, are probably the best known of the standalones. Her final standalone, The Rain Forest (1974), is set on a fictional tropical island and marks a departure in setting from most of her other work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Olivia Manning Standalone Novels series?

There are nine books in the Olivia Manning Standalone Novels series, published between 1937 and 1974.

What is the first book in the Olivia Manning Standalone Novels series?

The first book in the Olivia Manning Standalone Novels series is The Wind Changes, published in 1937.

Which Olivia Manning standalone novel should I read first?

School for Love (1951) is often recommended as the best starting point outside the Fortunes of War sequence. Set in Jerusalem during the end of the British Mandate, it is a tightly focused novel about a young orphan living with a miserly relative, and it shows Manning at her sharpest.

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