Sophie Elmhirst Wins Nero Book of the Year for Gripping Survival Story

Her debut book, 'Maurice And Maralyn,' recounts a couple's harrowing 118 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean after a shipwreck.

Sophie Elmhirst's 'Maurice And Maralyn' was awarded the £30,000 Nero Book of the Year prize at a ceremony in London.
The book tells the true story of a Derby couple shipwrecked in the 1970s and their struggle to survive on a lifeboat for 118 days after their boat was struck by a whale.
Judges, chaired by Bill Bryson, praised the book's powerful yet understated writing and its exploration of resilience and marital dynamics under extreme stress.
The story highlights the overlooked contributions of Maralyn, whose strength and determination were pivotal to the couple's survival.
This marks Elmhirst's first book, following a distinguished journalism career, including a British Press Award win in 2020.