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Maurice and Maralyn

A Whale, a Shipwreck, a Love Story

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

**WINNER OF THE NERO AWARDS GOLD PRIZE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024**
**WINNER OF THE NERO AWARDS NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024**

An extraordinary true story of shipwreck, survival and love

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.

'An enthralling, engrossing story of survival' Bill Bryson
‘An absolute jewel of a book’ India Knight
‘A gripping tale of adventure’ Elizabeth Day
‘An extraordinary survival story’ Sunday Times

A Guardian, Observer & Waterstones Non-fiction Book of the Year

©2024 Sophie Elmhirst (P)2024 Penguin Audio

 Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Marriage & Long-Term Partnerships Relationships Romance Inspiring Heartfelt

Critic reviews

An enthralling, engrossing story of survival and the resilience of the human spirit (BILL BRYSON)
Electrifying . . . a tender portrait of two unconventional souls blithely defying the conventions of their era and making a break for freedom (Fiona Sturges)
Extraordinary . . . Elmhirst is a terrific writer (ELIZABETH DAY)
An extraordinary survival story… Elmhirst’s reconstruction of their ordeal is riveting, told in illuminating detail
Maurice and Maralyn somehow contrives to be both gripping and elegiac. Sophie Elmhirst's graceful, confident prose is novelistic in its pleasures and profoundly moving in its impact (KALIANE BRADLEY, author of The Ministry of Time)
Amazing (BARACK OBAMA)
A compelling book about a shipwreck, but also as thoughtful a tale about marriage, for better and worse, as you are likely to read
Thought-provoking…compelling…tender… An ideal gift for a friend or family who likes incredible true stories of survival. But it’s also a book about love and hubris. And in that sense, it’s a book for us all. (PANDORA SYKES)
An amazing tale of survival . . . reminds me how incredibly hard it is to find love out there in the world (Tracey Thorn)
This dramatic, profound human story is so beautifully told in calm, thoughtful, perfectly judged prose. I really could not put it down (NINA STIBBE, author of Love, Nina)
All stars
Most relevant
I was captivated from the start. A fantastic book that became even more fantastic with the right narrator.

Captivated from the start and wonderful narrator

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Had been waiting to read this for a while. It was breathtaking how M&M survived. The description of their characters and foibles was perfect. I’d really recommend this. I actually thought the author might have met them….it was told that well.

An amazing tale

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Given this is a debut novel it’s likely as not the high mark for Sophie. The first book! It’s probably as close to perfection as I’ve found in recent years. The marquee moment or rather centre of the book, the castaway part, drives your intrigue as if I or you are in a storm yourself. The never ending infatuation we all have with seeing other people’s destruction or their terror is so carefully put together I found myself unable to put the book down/press pause.

After the ordeal it becomes an ever deeper contemplation on life and grief oh and loneliness. It’s important to say it’s a careful consideration on what’s going on beneath the surface of all of us.
What you’ll get from this novella is all the stuff. The joy the amazement and sadness of life. It’s poetic and charming, honest and kind. I think I’ll come back to it after sometime because, as a writer, I think it’s quite inspirational.
Let’s hope Sophie writes another or is doing so right now!

Perfect

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This is the perfect listen for a car journey.

Based on a true story, this story will make you understand what is important in life which is to love and be loved.

This is a beautiful listen

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As a sailor, I had hoped this story would deal in more detail about the character’s sailing, their boat and the journey. But it focused more on food lists and less on sail. I didn’t feel for them in the way I should have.

Not the nautical adventure I hoped for

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