Sophie Elmhirst’s “Maurice and Maralyn,” the true story of a British couple adrift in the Pacific for four months after a whale sank their boat, won the top prize at the Nero Book Awards. The book details Maurice and Maralyn Bailey’s 1972 voyage, which turned into a 118-day survival ordeal on a life raft. Judges praised the book for its captivating portrayal of human resilience and the couple’s relationship under extreme duress. Maralyn’s resourcefulness, including crafting fishing gear and creating games, was highlighted. Elmhirst discovered their story through a castaway website and used Maralyn’s diary and Maurice’s published accounts for her research. The book, which also won the Non-Fiction category, was lauded for its novelistic storytelling and powerful, understated writing. The Nero Book Awards, succeeding the Costa Book Awards, celebrated winners across fiction, debut fiction, and children’s fiction categories.
