Maurice and Maralyn
A Whale, a Shipwreck, a Love Story
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:29th Feb '24
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- Paperback£10.99(9781529931495)
This compelling narrative follows the journey of Maurice and Maralyn as they navigate love and survival against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.
In Maurice and Maralyn, an unlikely romance unfolds between two individuals who couldn't be more different. Maurice is cautious and awkward, while Maralyn is charismatic and forceful. Their relationship flourishes despite the odds, as Maralyn dreams of escaping their mundane 1970s suburban life. She proposes a radical plan: sell their house, build a boat, and leave England behind for good, seeking adventure in New Zealand. As they embark on this journey, they encounter the challenges of turning dreams into reality.
However, their adventure takes a dramatic turn when their boat is struck by a whale, leaving them stranded in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean on a tiny raft. Here, the true test of their love begins. As Maurice starts to withdraw into himself, Maralyn must summon all her strength and resilience to keep them both alive. This gripping tale is not just about survival at sea; it explores the depths of human connection and the complexities of the human condition.
Filled with danger, spirit, and tenderness, Maurice and Maralyn is a story that resonates with readers, highlighting the power of love amidst adversity. It captures the essence of resilience and the indomitable human spirit, making it a poignant read for anyone who has ever faced life's challenges head-on.
Electrifying . . . a tender portrait of two unconventional souls blithely defying the conventions of their era and making a break for freedom -- Fiona Sturges * Guardian *
Extraordinary . . . Elmhirst is a terrific writer -- ELIZABETH DAY
An extraordinary survival story… Elmhirst’s reconstruction of their ordeal is riveting, told in illuminating detail * Sunday Times *
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
A compelling book about a shipwreck, but also as thoughtful a tale about marriage, for better and worse, as you are likely to read * Observer *
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 * New Statesman *
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
A gripping tale of maritime catastrophe but also of marriage -- India Knight * Sunday Times *
A gripping story of survival at sea and a haunting account of the yearning to escape . . . It hasn’t left my mind since I finished it -- OLIVER BURKEMAN
ISBN: 9781784744922
Dimensions: 223mm x 143mm x 26mm
Weight: 380g
272 pages