AUTHOR of The Chronicles of Narnia, CS Lewis – Jack to his friends – was a deeply spiritual man, a Christian who set aside time most days to write to people who had sought his advice.

Beginning with friends, they eventually numbered thousands.

Avoiding platitudes, his letters form an astonishing body of wisdom and personal insight.

Some 365 are assembled here, presented in yearly sequence (1916-1963), with an excellent index to locate subjects. Culled from many references to Death is this one sub-headed “proper attitude towards”: “There are, aren’t there, only three things we can do about death: desire it, fear it, or ignore it.

The third alternative, which is the one the modern world calls ‘healthy’ is surely the most uneasy and precarious of all.”

You wouldn’t have to agree with everything Lewis says to find this book a real help in troubling times.

There’s even an index to the Biblical quotations with which Lewis often reinforces his message, but never like a rigid Bible puncher.