A Severe MercyA Severe Mercy
Score Classic
What it's about
Sheldon Vanauken and his wife Davy were deeply, almost obsessively in love, and resolved to share everything and let nothing come between them. While studying at Oxford in the 1950s, they became friends with C.S. Lewis and, to their own surprise, came to Christian faith. Then Davy fell ill. Vanauken tells the story of their marriage, their conversion and her death, and includes eighteen letters Lewis wrote to him.
Why it's worth reading
It won a National Book Award and has been a quiet classic for decades, especially among readers of C.S. Lewis. It's a love story and a story of grief and faith.
You'll love it if you liked
Tuesdays with Morrie
The Year of Magical Thinking
When Breath Becomes AirGood to know
It's openly Christian and reflective. It's sad, but many readers find it consoling.
By the numbers
- Readers89 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics61 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller10 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
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Quick answers
Is A Severe Mercy worth reading?
Yes. It won a National Book Award and has been a quiet classic for decades, especially among readers of C.S. It ranks #367 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 80.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Severe Mercy about?
Sheldon Vanauken and his wife Davy were deeply, almost obsessively in love, and resolved to share everything and let nothing come between them. While studying at Oxford in the 1950s, they became friends with C.S. Lewis and, to their own surprise, came to Christian faith. Then Davy fell ill. Vanauken tells the story of their marriage, their conversion and her death, and includes eighteen letters Lewis wrote to him.
How long does it take to read A Severe Mercy?
About 6 hours (240 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has A Severe Mercy won?
National Book Award (Nonfiction) winner (1980).
What should I read after A Severe Mercy?
If you liked it, try Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion or When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.