Book Review: Maurice and Maralyn

Maurice and Maralyn
by Sophie Elmhirst
Review by Alex A

An amazing true story of survival, told with sensitivity and nuance. Maurice and Maralyn are a married couple who leave behind 1970s England and set sail for New Zealand in their 30-foot sailboat. Maralyn can’t swim. What could go wrong?

Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean near the Galapagos Islands, an injured whale smashes into their boat. The whale dies, the boat sinks, and the couple are left drifting hopelessly on a life raft attached to a dinghy.

The book explores not only the practicalities of their survival, but also their relationship and the ways in which it adapts and changes under these extreme circumstances – who is forced to be the leader, who is shown to be the more capable, is optimism a help or a hindrance in the face of death?

Perfect for readers who enjoyed The Salt Path or The Wager.