An extraordinary true tale of love, shipwreck and survival, beautifully told -- Maurice and Maralyn's escape from 1970s England and its oil crisis, strikes and inflation is also a story for our times

'An absolute jewel of a book' India Knight 'A gripping tale of adventure' Elizabeth Day 'An extraordinary survival story' Sunday Times

What begins as an eccentric English love story turns into one of the most dramatic adventures ever recorded...

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Maurice and Maralyn couldn't be more different. He is as cautious and awkward as she is charismatic and forceful. It seems an unlikely romance, but it works.

Bored of 1970s suburban life, Maralyn has an idea- sell the house, build a boat, leave England -- and its oil crisis, industrial strikes and inflation -- forever. It is hard work, turning dreams into reality, but finally they set sail for New Zealand. Then, halfway there, their beloved boat is struck by a whale and the pair are cast adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

On their tiny raft, their love is put to the test. When Maurice begins to withdraw into himself, it falls upon Maralyn to keep them both alive. Filled with danger, spirit, and tenderness, this is a book about human connection and the human condition; about how we survive -- not just at sea, but in life.

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'Beautiful, moving and genuinely unputdownable' Joanna Cannon 'With the adrenaline kick of Jaws . . . A remarkable portrait of a marriage kept afloat against the odds' Financial Times 'One of those special books that makes you put everything on hold' Rachel Joyce

A Guardian, Observer & Waterstones Nonfiction Book of 2024

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'