A Grief Observed

A Grief Observed, first published in 1961, is a collection of C. S. Lewis's reflections on the experience of bereavement following the death in 1960 of his wife, Joy Gresham, from bone cancer. In order to avoid identification as the author, Lewis published the book under the pseudonym N. W. Clerk, referring to his wife throughout as H (her first name being Helen). Lacking an identifiable author, the book sold poorly in Great Britain.