{"product_id":"a-marriage-at-sea-sophie-elmhirst-9780593854280","title":"A Marriage at Sea | Sophie Elmhirst","description":"\u003csection class=\"product-description\" style=\"color: #1a1a1a; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6;\"\u003e\n  \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.75em; margin-bottom: 15px; border-bottom: 2px solid #2c3e50; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eA Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck\u003c\/h2\u003e\n  \n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAccolades \u0026amp; Praise\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cul style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRunaway Bestseller:\u003c\/strong\u003e An instant \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestseller and selected as one of Barack Obama’s Favorite Books of 2025.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCritical Acclaim:\u003c\/strong\u003e Praised by \u003cem\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/em\u003e as a \"triumph,\" and by \u003cem\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/em\u003e for statements that leave readers \"reeling with their depth.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNotable Endorsements:\u003c\/strong\u003e Described as a \"beautiful meditation on endurance\" by Patrick Radden Keefe and an \"enthralling, engrossing story of survival\" by Bill Bryson.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eExtended Synopsis\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eMaurice and Maralyn make an unlikely pair. He is an awkward, obsessive loner, while she is a charismatic and ambitious force. Bound together by a shared horror of wasting their lives, they pursue a common dream: quitting their jobs, selling their house, buying a boat, and sailing away from conventional society. While most people leave such fantasies as daydreams, Maurice and Maralyn turned theirs into a reality, setting sail in June 1972.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eFor nearly a year, their daring escape went perfectly. But deep in the Pacific Ocean, disaster struck when a breaching whale collided with their vessel, knocking a hole in the hull and sending it to the bottom of the sea. What ensued was a jaw-dropping, adrenaline-fueled fight for survival. Stranded for months in a tiny rubber raft with minimal resources, facing starvation and exhaustion, the couple clung to a rapidly diminishing hope of rescue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eIn the vast, unforgiving ocean, Maurice and Maralyn were forced not only to find ways to physically survive but also to find a way to get along. As their inner demons emerged, their marriage was put to the ultimate test. Taut, propulsive, and dazzling, \u003cem\u003eA Marriage at Sea\u003c\/em\u003e pairs a harrowing high-seas adventure with a gutting love story, asking profound questions about why we love difficult people and who we become under the most extreme conditions imaginable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSophie Elmhirst\u003c\/strong\u003e is an acclaimed writer and journalist. With unparalleled emotional vividness, her narrative nonfiction captures the profound psychological depths of real people thrust into extraordinary and unimaginable circumstances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eReader Targeting\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cul style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eFans of high-stakes survival stories and true nautical adventures.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eReaders who appreciate deeply psychological portraits of marriage, codependence, and human resilience.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eEnthusiasts of gripping, fast-paced narrative nonfiction that reads like a thriller.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eBibliographic \u0026amp; Physical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"table-responsive\" style=\"overflow-x: auto; max-width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px; -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n    \u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; min-width: 650px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0.95em; table-layout: fixed;\"\u003e\n      \u003cthead\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"background-color: #f8f9fa; border-bottom: 2px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 12px 10px; color: #2c3e50; width: 30%; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eSpecification\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 12px 10px; color: #2c3e50; width: 70%; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eDetails\u003c\/th\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003c\/thead\u003e\n      \u003ctbody\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003e9780593854280\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eISBN-10\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003e0593854284\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003ePublisher\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eRiverhead Books\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003ePublication Date\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eJuly 8, 2025\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eEdition\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eFirst Edition\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eFormat\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eHardcover (Hardbound, Dust Jacket Included, Used Condition)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003ePage Count\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003e256\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eBISAC Categories\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eBIOGRAPHY \u0026amp; AUTOBIOGRAPHY \/ Survival; FAMILY \u0026amp; RELATIONSHIPS \/ Love \u0026amp; Romance\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\"\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"text-align: left; padding: 10px; background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #2c3e50; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eDimensions \u0026amp; Weight\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; color: #1a1a1a; vertical-align: top;\"\u003e9.0 x 6.0 x 1.0 inches \/ 14.2 oz\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n    \u003c\/table\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.25em; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this book a true story?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it is the electrifying true nonfiction account of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, whose sailboat was sunk by a whale in 1972.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat happened to their boat?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDeep in the Pacific Ocean, a breaching whale collided with their vessel, knocking a hole in the hull and sinking it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat themes does the book explore besides survival?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeyond the physical fight to stay alive, the book is a deep psychological meditation on codependence, resilience, and the complexities of marriage under unimaginable duress.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n  {\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n      {\n        \"@type\": [\"Book\", \"Product\"],\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/a-marriage-at-sea-sophie-elmhirst-9780593854280#book\",\n        \"name\": \"A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck\",\n        \"author\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Person\",\n          \"name\": \"Sophie Elmhirst\"\n        },\n        \"description\": \"Sophie Elmhirst recounts the electrifying true story of a young couple shipwrecked at sea, blending harrowing survival with a test of marriage.\",\n        \"isbn\": \"9780593854280\",\n        \"gtin13\": \"9780593854280\",\n        \"sku\": \"0593854284\",\n        \"bookFormat\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/Hardcover\",\n        \"bookEdition\": \"First Edition\",\n        \"datePublished\": \"2025-07-08\",\n        \"numberOfPages\": \"256\",\n        \"inLanguage\": \"en\",\n        \"countryOfOrigin\": \"United States\",\n        \"genre\": [\n          \"BIOGRAPHY \u0026 AUTOBIOGRAPHY \/ Survival\",\n          \"FAMILY \u0026 RELATIONSHIPS \/ Love \u0026 Romance\"\n        ],\n        \"image\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9780593854280.jpg?v=1786218421\",\n        \"publisher\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n          \"name\": \"Riverhead Books\"\n        },\n        \"weight\": {\n          \"@type\": \"QuantitativeValue\",\n          \"value\": \"14.2\",\n          \"unitCode\": \"ONZ\"\n        },\n        \"offers\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Offer\",\n          \"price\": \"15.99\",\n          \"priceCurrency\": \"USD\",\n          \"availability\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/InStock\",\n          \"itemCondition\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/UsedCondition\",\n          \"url\": \"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/a-marriage-at-sea-sophie-elmhirst-9780593854280\",\n          \"seller\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n            \"name\": \"Bust Down Books\"\n          }\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/a-marriage-at-sea-sophie-elmhirst-9780593854280#faq\",\n        \"mainEntity\": [\n          {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Is this book a true story?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n              \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n              \"text\": \"Yes, it is the electrifying true nonfiction account of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, whose sailboat was sunk by a whale in 1972.\"\n            }\n          },\n          {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What happened to their boat?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n              \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n              \"text\": \"Deep in the Pacific Ocean, a breaching whale collided with their vessel, knocking a hole in the hull and sinking it.\"\n            }\n          },\n          {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"What themes does the book explore besides survival?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n              \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n              \"text\": \"Beyond the physical fight to stay alive, the book is a deep psychological meditation on codependence, resilience, and the complexities of marriage under unimaginable duress.\"\n            }\n          }\n        ]\n      }\n    ]\n  }\n  \u003c\/script\u003e\n\n  \u003chr style=\"border: 0; 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