Maurice și Maralyn

Maurice and Maralyn Bailey spent 118 days lost at sea. They drifted in the Pacific. A whale struck their boat in March 1973 and sank it. Sophie Elmhirst tells their true story. She follows them from courtship through shipwreck to life after rescue. The book blends their life story with a sea adventure. It also looks at their marriage. It suits readers of true tales of survival and shared hardship.

Five parts trace their life as a couple. They meet in 1962. Maurice works as a typesetter in Derby. Illness as a child and a cold family have made him withdrawn. Maralyn grew up with an aunt and uncle. She feels more sure of herself. Both love to fly, climb and sail. She suggests they sell their home and sail towards New Zealand. They leave in June 1972 aboard Auralyn.

Once their boat sinks, they catch fish and turtles. They also gather rain to drink. Ships pass but do not see them. Hunger, sickness and storms wear them down. So does damage to their small craft. They keep journals and make plans, which help them endure. Maralyn stays firm as Maurice loses more hope. A Korean fishing crew saves them on 30 June 1973.

The later parts trace their fame and return to sea. They build a new boat. They still dream of reaching Patagonia and work towards that goal. The last part looks at loss after Maralyn dies. Maurice still feels the bond they shared.

Elmhirst found the subject while looking into why people seek escape. This first book won the 2024 Nero award for nonfiction. She has written for The Guardian and The Economist’s 1843. She has won British Press and Foreign Press awards. Alexandra Tabara translated this edition from English.