Olivia Manning (1908–1980)

Re-visited 2024 (this time in a radio adaptation, narrated by Joanna Lumley). Wonderful and sometimes satirical evocation of being a newly-married wife trailing her eng-lit teacher husband around Europe, trying to keep ahead of Nazi invasion.

Harriet is loyal to her husband, but increasingly exasperated by his neglect when it becomes apparent his time and loyalty belong seemingly to everyone else first. Guy is a good man, but myopic in every sense of the word.

Great characterisations & sense of being an ex-pat at that time in history. Loosely based on Olivier Manning’s own experiences in Europe during the war.… (meer)

Extraordinarily good and coherent account of chaotic events, pieced together from diaries, memoirs and Stanley’s doubtful lectures. Some traditional views on the character of Egyptians, Sudanese, Zanzibaris and Arabs could not be even quoted today. Stanley died of a stroke in 1904. Emin Pasha was less fortunate. In 1890 he was dealt with in a village 80 miles South of Stanley (Boyoma) Falls “Four men held him down upon the floor while Mamba (and Arab captain) slit his throat. His head was cut off, put in a box, and sent to Kibonge (the chief of the Manyuema slavers). His grave was never discovered. His men were killed and eaten by the Manyuema.”… (meer)