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A Grief Observed

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A Grief Observed

By: C. S. Lewis
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
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Summary

Written after his wife’s tragic death as a way of surviving the “mad midnight moments,” A Grief Observed is C. S. Lewis’ honest reflection on the fundamental issues of life, death, and faith in the midst of loss. This work contains his concise, genuine reflections on 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.

©1961 , restored 1996 C. S. Lewis Pte., Ltd. (P)2006 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Christian Living Christianity Death & Dying Grief & Loss Indigenous Creators Mental Health Awareness Personal Development Relationships Religious Studies Sociology Grief

Critic Reviews

“Reading A Grief Observed is to share not only in C. S. Lewis’ grief, but in his understanding of love, and that is richness indeed.”

(Madeline L’Engle, from the foreword)

“[A Grief Observed] 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.”

(Michael Joseph Gross)

“A very personal, anguished, luminous little book about the meaning of death, marriage, and religion.”

(Publishers Weekly)

“Grief exhibits Lewis’ ability to capture the ear…Ralph Cosham gives a fluid and evenhanded reading to this soul-baring expose of emotion itself and the man who wrote about it.”

(AudioFile)
All stars
Most relevant
CS Lewis expresses thoughts I had previously only felt and more. Even though each person’s grief is unique, there are common responses that we cannot articulate to just anyone. I found comfort in Lewis being able to to bravely express these so much better than I could.

He has the words

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Liked everything. Wish I have listened to it 4.25 years ago when my husband passed away. But it was meant to be today. Thank you. Peace in my heart, finally.

At long last, peace

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Helpful for any kind of loss or heartbreak. I liked this book because grief is so universal and it's nice to hear in someone else's words, so accurately describe how it feels from inside the pain. It made me feel less alone and more comforted. It would be a good book to give to family and friends of a person who is grieving a loss and/or heartbreak, so they know how to behave and what to expect from someone in the grieving process, especially the part where it says that you (the grieved) is glad to have family/friends around but wishes to be more or less left alone while in company. I think at one point he writes something like, I need their company but I wish they would let me be, that they would talk, just not to me, but among themselves.

A beautiful book

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CS Lewis in a display of raw emotion and contemplation. For all who have lost one truly loved.

Truth telling c s lewis

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I loved this book. I wish I’d had it for my Dad when he was widowed too young from the same decease at C.S Lewis’ wife. To be so wholly understood by your fellow man; to have your position explained so beautifully,with such perfect words makes this book a gift to all the broken-hearted . Highly recommend.

A very personal honest account of grief

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