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Average Rating:  out of 76 Reviews
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Price: $13.99
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Sale: $7.57
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Manufacturer: HarperOne
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780060688240
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: Sheldon Vanauken
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Publisher: HarperOne
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Dewey Decimal Number: 283.092
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Publication Date: 1987-07-29
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Reading Level: 240
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Description: A Severe Mercy, by Sheldon Vanauken, is a heart-rending love story described by its author as "the spiritual autobiography of a love rather than of the lovers." Vanauken chronicles the birth of a powerful pagan love borne out of the relationship he shares with his wife, Davy, and describes the growth of their relationship and the dreams that they share. As a symbol of their love, they name their dream schooner the Grey Goose, "for the grey goose, if its mate is killed flies on alone and never takes another." While studying at Oxford, Sheldon and Davy develop a friendship with C.S. Lewis, under whose influence and with much intellectual scrutiny they accept the Christian doctrine. As their devotion to God intensifies, Sheldon realizes that he is no longer Davy's primary love--God is. Within this discovery begins a brewing jealousy. Shortly after, Davy acquires a fatal illness. After her death Sheldon embarks on an intense experience of grief, "to find the meaning of it, taste the whole of it ... to learn from sorrow whatever it had to teach." Through painstaking reveries, he comes to discover the meaning of "a mercy as severe as death, a severity as merciful as love." He learns that her death "had these results: It brought me as nothing else could do to know and end my jealously of God. It saved her faith from assault. ...And it saved our love from perishing." Replete with 18 letters from C.S. Lewis, A Severe Mercy addresses some of the universal questions that surround faith--the existence of God and the reasons behind tragedy. --Jacque Holthusen
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: A Theology of Joy |
Date: 2008-07-29 |
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Details: Not only is this a beautiful story, but it is a rich and profound study in the theology of joy, on par with C.S. Lewis' 'Surprised by Joy'. Really, the book is a fleshing out of Lewis' theology of joy through the life and mind of Vanauken. It is so moving and so well done that I snatch up used copies whenever I see them to give away as gifts. If you enjoyed this book see also Peter Kreeft, 'Heaven: The Heart's Deepest Longing'; Humphrey Carpenter, 'The Inklings'; G.K. Chesterton, 'The Everlasting Man'; and, of course C.S. Lewis, 'Surprised by Joy'. |
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Review Summary: past legitimate doubt to serious faith |
Date: 2008-07-18 |
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Details: (I gave away this latest copy I bought, but did read it a few years ago.)
Great reading material for any couple starting to develop and defend their own shining barrier around their love as well as for anyone with a serious contemplation about what faith in God really means.
Makes a great gift or discussion topic. |
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Review Summary: My Favorite Book |
Date: 2008-06-18 |
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Details: A Sever Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken is perhaps my favorite book. It is a autobiography of the author's life, focusing especially on his relationship with his wife, Davy, and how it evolved throughout their conversion to Christianity. An English professor and poet, Vanauken is a terrific writer who will have you alternately laughing and crying. The story is beautiful, and the message is timeless. It is definitely worth buying and reading. Note: this is a Christian book, from a Christian point fo view, so don't buy it expecting just a romance story. It is theologically deep, and quite moving. It will give you a new frame of thinking about one's relationship to both Christ and one's spouse. |
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Review Summary: No other word but beautiful. |
Date: 2008-05-13 |
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Details: I have to be honest, I'm kind of a book snob. I buy a lot of books, read a lot of books, and dislike a lot of books. Rarely does a book catch my heart and my mind as quickly and as totally as this did. Many times when my husband and I were dating and even in our earliest days and weeks of marriage we talked about protecting our little delicate love and we set up ground rules in order to help our love endure. This book puts into words what we felt as we were trying to set our "no plan B" marriage into motion. This love story is love found on many levels and I plan on picking it up again and again in years to come...
If you want a honest and beautiful and well-written story of love and marriage, buy this book today. |
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Review Summary: Wear Your Tears and Read Your Fears |
Date: 2008-05-11 |
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Details: Breathtaking... Read the ideal dream of love, read your deepest fears, wear your most passionate tears.
A true story, an autobiography of a Love, written by the husband after his wife's untimely death. The wife's death was the destiny of a jealosy the husband felt for his wife's love for God that arose from their unity in pursuit of beauty. It was a severe mercy for God to take her, to save their love for eternity.
This book is ripe with poetry fruiting from the Tree of Love. This book is truly the miracle concealed in the years of their marriage, their child. This book is the banner of romance, to war the apathy that complacent love dies from so frequently.
I raised my teacup and said, "If it's half as good as the half we've known..." and she said "Here's 'Hail!' to the rest of the road." We drank to that in Darjeeling.
Many will read this book because of the letters from C.S.Lewis. Some will read it because of the story of their conversion from "pagan lovers" to Christians. But, I pray you read it for the Adventure of Love. |
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