First editions, Friends and Heroes, being a first US edition. 8vo. Original cloth, dust jackets. London, Heinemann, 1960.
'The Great Fortune' with two TLS from the author, dated 27th October and 7th November 1960. One in which she briefly mentions writing the second volume of this trilogy, a car accident she was in, and agreeing to come to talk at a university. In the other she discusses her car accident further. The Balkan series, are semi-autobiographical and are loosely based on Manning and her husband's experiences during the Second World War, living in Romania, Greece and Egypt. Anthony Burgess in his Ninety-nine Novels described the trilogy as: "probably the most important long work of fiction written by a woman since the war. It seems also to be one of the finest records we have of the impact of that war on Europe." A very good set, extremities of jackets a little worn and chipped. Two tape stains each to front and rear flaps and paste down endpapers of 'The Great Fortune'. The original price in 'Friends and Heroes' crossed out on front flap and new price written in pen.
