"The most wonderfully personal and yet epic biography detailing the fascinating life of an English couple who fought for survival in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. "
What a tale! If you didn’t know this was a biography you would be forgiven for believing you were reading a novel. Maurice and Maralyn went to sea in a beautiful and most beloved boat. In 1973, after being hit by a dying whale, their boat quickly sank and they were left in their life raft desperately hoping to be spotted by a passing ship. Author Sophie Elmhirst has created the most readable and fascinating story. She has had obtained a wealth of information and used it with compassion and empathy, yet you can also feel the truth of the words. She begins with Maurice and Maralyn meeting and ends with their passing, and it is told in the most wonderfully personal and captivating way. The focus of this biography is the extraordinary adventure at sea, but also the ability of an ordinary couple to function together in the most dreadful of circumstances, and what happens when you unwittingly become world famous. The love between the two gently thrums through the pages, they are each as different as can be, and when forces turn against them, one of them leads their survival story. Not only has this biography been chosen as a Liz Pick of the Month, it just had to be a LoveReading Star Book too. Highly recommended, Maurice and Maralyn is a truly lovely yet gripping story of an ordinary turned extraordinary couple, what an adventure!
**SHORTLISTED FOR THE NERO BOOK AWARDS NON-FICTION AWARD 2024**
An extraordinary true story of shipwreck, survival and love
'An absolute jewel of a book' India Knight 'A gripping tale of adventure' Elizabeth Day 'An extraordinary survival story' Sunday Times
Bored of 1970s suburban life, Maurice and Maralyn plan their escape: sell the house, build a boat, set sail for New Zealand. Then, halfway around the world, their beloved boat is struck by a whale and the pair are cast adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Alone on a tiny raft, their love is put to the test. This is a book about human connection and the human condition; about how we survive - not just at sea, but in life.
'This skilful storytelling drew me in…very touching indeed' James Rebanks 'With the adrenaline kick of Jaws . . . A remarkable portrait of a marriage kept afloat against the odds' Financial Times 'This dramatic, profound human story is so beautifully told. I really could not put it down' Nina Stibbe
A Guardian, Observer & Waterstones Non-fiction Book of the Year
**READERS ADORE MAURICE & MARALYN** 'A riveting tale of survival . . . and of the power of love when all appears lost' 'A mind-blowing story of resilience and love in the face of adversity' 'The very best kind of true story, and beautifully written' 'I couldn't put this book down' 'I was absolutely hooked from the outset'
