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A Grief Observed Paperback – April 21, 2015

by C. S. Lewis (Author), Madeleine L'Engle (Foreword)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 6,049 ratings
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The Spiritual Journey of Grief

A Grief Observed is C.S. Lewis’s honest reflection on the fundamental issues of life, death, and faith in the midst of loss. Written after his wife’s tragic death as a way of surviving the “mad midnight moments,” A Grief Observed is an unflinchingly truthful account of how loss can lead even a stalwart believer to lose all sense of meaning in the universe, and how he can gradually regain his bearings. 

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    76 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HarperOne
  4. Publication date
    April 21, 2015
  5. Reading age
    18 years and up
  6. Dimensions
    5.31 x 0.25 x 8 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0060652381
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0060652388
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I read Lewis for comfort and pleasure many years ago, and a glance into the books revives my old admiratation."-- John Updike"A very personal, anguished, luminous little book about the meaning of death, marriage, and religion."-- "Publishers Weekly

From the Back Cover

Written after his wife's tragic death as a way of surviving the "mad midnight moments," A Grief Observed is C. S. Lewis's honest reflection on the fundamental issues of life, death, and faith in the midst of loss. This work contains his concise, genuine reflections of that period: "Nothing will shake a man—or at any rate a man like me—out of his merely verbal thinking and his merely notional beliefs. He has to be knocked silly before he comes to his senses. Only torture will bring out the truth. Only under torture does he discover it himself."

This is a beautiful and unflinchingly honest record of how even a stalwart believer can lose all sense of meaning in the universe, and how he can gradually regain his bearings.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne; 1st edition (April 21, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 76 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060652381
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060652388
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.28 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.25 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 6,049 ratings

About the author

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C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis

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CLIVE STAPLES LEWIS (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a fellow and tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954 when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics, the Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
6,049 global ratings
Insight to grief
5 Stars
Insight to grief
C.S. Lewis’ is journaling his grief in this book. This book excludes prompts, step by step guides, self help, etc., but this is more of stepping into Mr. Lewis’ journey of grieving. The hardcover is bound beautifully and the pages are reminiscent of deckle edges.
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Top reviews from the United States

Bill Flanigan
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book if you have lost a spouse
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book was really more of a diary that C.S. Lewis kept when he was losing his wife to cancer and then tried to get his life back after she died. Having recently lost my wife, I found a lot of his thoughts, observations, anger, and sadness relevant to my situation. I'm not alone.

I also appreciated how he lost and then regained his faith. That did not happen to me, but I could understand how some people might get angry at God for their loss. It helps me to read his thoughts as he wrote them in this book.
3 people found this helpful
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Lynn W
5.0 out of 5 stars In Depth and Comforting…
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2024
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A raw and truthful accounting of the range of emotions of Grief and struggle with the Crestor God. Highly recommend!
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H.M.
4.0 out of 5 stars The foreword is very universalist
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
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I returned the book, not because of CS Lewis, but because of the foreword. It is absolutely not Christian. It seems dishonoring to have a foreword in a CS Lewis book such as that one. Maybe not the book version you’d want to give away. I’ll just buy a vintage copy of Lewis’ book and skip the gobbledygook forward.
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C. Peterson
5.0 out of 5 stars amazing comfort
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
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He wrote of my very grief experience. Amazing he could describe these intense feeling in such a useful and validating way. He filled the holes in my heart that would otherwise go unexpressed.
2 people found this helpful
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susan bergstrom
5.0 out of 5 stars Grief book
Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2024
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I love it. Best perspective on grief I have read. C S Lewis is a brilliant Christian man, writes over most people’s heads. This book is down to earth. Very human as he grieves losing his beloved wife. Highly recommend. It’s not what you expect. Not sweet platitudes and psychological jibber jabber. But addresses a God who accepts your true feelings, anger, sorrow, resentment, hopelessness, loneliness , disappointment, confusion etc. Lamenting is very real and biblical. There is no shame or guilt in it.
4 people found this helpful
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Amanda Hupe
5.0 out of 5 stars Words when I needed them most...thank you Mr. Lewis
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
Two days after my Dad passed, I bought A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis. I needed something. I could not focus on reading fiction. I needed to read something by someone who I knew whose words would be a comfort. C.S. Lewis wrote these essays after the death of his wife. These are what he called, “mad midnight moments.” For those who are going through a loss, laying down to sleep is the worst. His path through grief is healthy and relatable. However, I lost my dad, not my husband, so this is a book I would recommend to someone who is grieving over a spouse or partner. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t quotes that spoke to me and I am grateful for the insight so I can be there for my mother and listen to her as she processes her grief. There are so many quotes. This isn’t really a review. Just a sharing of quotes that might help someone else.

“Talk to me about the truth of religion and I’ll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I’ll listen submissively. But don’t come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don’t understand.”

A GRIEF OBSERVED
THIS. In fact, if you haven’t experienced a loss, still read this book. I could write so many things now to NOT say to people when going through their grief….sorry I am still weaving in and out of the angry stage. But in all seriousness, never say “this is all a part of God’s plan.” Never, ever, EVER. This is like tearing open a wound in someone’s heart. It creates even more anger than before. It is not helpful or comforting. Don’t try to point out the “positives.” I will never see my dad again on this Earth. I have to go the rest of my life without another hug or him calling me, “Joop” because his answering machine couldn’t pronounce my last name. I will never see play with my sons or nephews again and the hole that is in my heart will never close.

“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing. At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me.”

I never contemplated a life without my dad. I am still in denial. He could walk in the door any minute. I still feel alone even though I am surrounded by an amazing support system. How did I get blessed with the most amazing family? My sisters, my mom, and I are already close but now we cling to each other and we have all been there for each other.

I am a fixer. I hate when those I love around me are hurting. I am trying to be a better listener because I am not the only one grieving. There is no fixing loss. The hurt and pain will hit in waves but it will never actually cease. As I said above, I hope this can help someone else. There are moments where I feel like I am drowning. But reading these words validated my feelings. They helped and could help you.
148 people found this helpful
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Name withheld
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful edition.
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is a wonderful edition of a wonderful book. The quality of the printing and the dust jacket-like cover makes it an ideal version to give as a gift. The cover design, to me, refreshes what some might view as old thinking. In truth, of course, the content is timeless.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Almost Over My Head
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024
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Although C. S. Lewis wrote many books & is a famous author, I must admit that this one was very intellectual & was nearly over my head.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good for understanding loss
Reviewed in Canada on December 12, 2023
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When someone you love passes away, this book would help you deal with it.
One person found this helpful
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Mr M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Moving
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2024
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Extremely interesting, and to a degree comforting (because someone else has been through it), analysis of the process of grief.
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Rob Hupertz
5.0 out of 5 stars A hard read but a good read
Reviewed in Australia on January 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
…..helped with processing some of my grief. Also a relief to known that a Godly man like C.S. Lewis also struggled with himself, with doubt, with God and with his emotions.
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Patricialeal
5.0 out of 5 stars Buen libro.
Reviewed in Spain on February 2, 2017
Verified Purchase
Es un libro interesante sobre la palabra Dios cuando perdemos alguien en nuestra vida. Lo dimos de regalo a una amiga.
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Ets
5.0 out of 5 stars Very realistic portrayal of grief after death
Reviewed in India on November 20, 2016
Verified Purchase
The title very key "A" grief observed ... In this case, it's him grieving the death of his wife. Because it's his experience, it doesn't seem "preachy"... Especially parts I could relate to. It's different in different cases, even for the same person, depending on relation with the deceased. It was a comforting read.
One person found this helpful
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