A survey is given of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments in the manganese perovskites of the form RE(1-x)A(x)MnO(3) and REMnO3+delta (RE = rare earth, A = Ca, Sr, Pa). The Mn-55, La-139 and Sr-87 spin-echo spectra in the frequency range 5-650 MHz are discussed and the microscopic information on the Mn valence states and the nature of magnetic interactions is analysed as a function of the hole doping. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.