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A Severe Mercy  By  cover art

A Severe Mercy

By: Sheldon Vanauken
Narrated by: Peter Chanice
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Publisher's summary

Beloved, profoundly moving account of the author's marriage, the couple's search for faith and friendship with C. S. Lewis, and a spiritual strength that sustained Vanauken after his wife's untimely death.

©1980 Sheldon Vanauken (P)2014 HarperCollinsPublishers

What listeners say about A Severe Mercy

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A definition of Eternity

This is a beautiful story of reaching to understand how earthy love can move closely to the Eternal love that awaits us all in glorious Heaven!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

The whole journey of Van’s faith was beautifully displayed chapter by chapter. The hand of God can be seen working in his love, his companions, his work. Just a wonderful read on all levels.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful!

Wonderful true story, including
letters from C S Lewis about a couple’s love during a trying time





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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

the most incredible love story you will ever read

this is one of the most beautiful love stories you will ever come across, in more ways than one. The narrator was wonderful and really reminded me of what I imagine the author sounding like. I loved this book and was so sad that it was over. I even drug out the last 45 minutes over a few days because I didn't want it to end. Amazing book

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Need a new voice reader

Book was excellent. Reader too staccato. I wish a more legato reader was used. Other than that, so thoughtful toward the end.

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1 person found this helpful

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Outstanding

Best book I've read on love and loss and God's mysterious provision through it all.

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6 people found this helpful

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Magnificent and transcendent

The most beautiful, sublime and haunting (in the holy sense) book I have ever heard or read. A Severe Mercy is a magnificent and transcendent study of faith, grief and eternal love. The narrator does true justice to the beauty of the written work. And the story it tells is true. I had the honour of knowing the author as teacher, mentor and friend.

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A must-read

A most profound book. Deeply engaging. Beautifully written. Perfectly performed by the narrator. Don't let your life pass without reading this book.

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Fascinating

Such depths of reality and possibilities. I related to their thoughts many more times than I would have imagined and then it took me deeper and helped me realize similar patterns, such as my grieving for the loss of my husband and experiences after his death. Brilliant men who wrote magnificent letters! Much appreciation to those who compiled all of these letters and produced them for us to learn and share.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A must read/listen

Enjoyed every minute and feel blessed to have been allowed into the personal joys and pains of these people. GO UNDER THE MERCY

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