Archive for the ‘shipwreck’ Tag
Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst is a gripping account of Maralyn and Maurice Bailey’s* exploits at sea.
The subtitle reveals the main elements of the narrative; yet in no way diminishes the situation upon which Elmhirst’s work is based.
The book focuses on three aspects: the couple’s backgrounds, personalities and how they met; next, sailing, shipwreck and days adrift; finally, life after their rescue (this isn’t a spoiler).
Elmhirst first captures readers’ attention by describing how the two met. Despite have similarly unhappy upbringings, their personalities were very different. Maurice was adventuresome, methodical and obstinate in his ways. Maralyn was more carefree and logical. She readily joined Maurice in his daring undertakings.
They set sail from England for New Zealand in a boat they built themselves. This is, initially, the idyllic part of the story. It all dramatically changed after their boat was hit by a whale in the Pacific Ocean far from shore. They spent 118 days at sea, afloat in a dinghy attached to a life raft. Their rations were in short supply, they had no radio and had to rely on each other to survive. How they did so was a lesson in perseverance; primarily on Maralyn’s part. She became more resolute in surviving as Maurice fell into despair.
Elmhirst relied on Maralyn’s journals, newspaper accounts and interviews with those who knew the couple. This is fascinating look at relationships and adventure; the latter section is tiresome, though.
Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession and Shipwreck
Almost-four bookmarks
Riverhead Books, 2025
256 pages
*Photo from nzherald.co.nz
The Lightkeeper by Linda Duval is a tale of a young woman who seeks to be independent and then becomes fiercely so in a time when it is far from the norm.
Because of the Civil War there’s a shortage of men to staff the lighthouses on the Massachusetts coast. Amy Pritchard is mourning the death of her husband when not long afterwards her infant daughter also dies. Seeking refuge and a desire to prove herself as a capable person, she is hired to care for the Point Peril lighthouse.
Amy becomes adept in her role caring for the lighthouse and its grounds, teaches herself to swim, garden and manages life, mostly, on her own. A ferocious storm changes things when she saves a shipwrecked sailor. Amy and the man, who she later learns was the ship’s captain, are destined to meet again months later. From this point the plot becomes predictable, but no less engaging.
Later, a young man is available to take over the lighthouse and Amy must give up her job. The captain offers her a position at his family’s shipbuilding company and housing in Boston, which she reluctantly accepts. This further tests her resolve to maintain her independence.
DuVal has crafted a richly descriptive narrative with interesting characters, although she resorts to caricature in her portrayal of the rural pastor. Still, the story flows well and Amy’s insistence of staying true to herself despite the limitations imposed on women of that era is impressive.
The Lightkeeper
Three-and-three-quarters bookmarks
Ryolite Press, 2024
178 pages
A detailed narrative about a British warship in the 1700s might not sound like the most gripping read. However, David Grann has crafted a compelling story about the power of the sea, the determination to survive and an unexpected outcome.
Relying on journal entries from several men aboard the HMS Wager, Grann provides different perspectives of what occurred. The Wager was part of a fleet on a secret mission during the Britain’s War with Spain.
However, before the ships ever left port, a shortage of crewmen and illness delayed the ability to set sail. This foretells of an ominous outcome.
Unrelenting storms and conditions while making the passage around Cape Horn, scurvy, loss of life, a tyrannical captain and separation from the rest of the fleet are just the beginning of the misfortunes, including the shipwreck. The survivors land on a desolate, mountainous island they name after their lost vessel.
The journals bring the seamen to life and the existence of their writings address the question of who survives, so no spoiler alert is needed. What’s intriguing is how long they endured the harsh conditions, the steps taken to leave the island, the factions established by those efforts and, perhaps most captivating is what happens once the men do return to England (and not all arrive together).
The publication of several conflicting accounts of what occurred resulted in charges and countercharges thus leading to a court martial. Its outcome is as surprising as the sailors’ impressive ability to survive.
The Wager: A tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
Four Bookmarks
Doubleday, 2023
329 pages, includes notes, bibliography, index and list of illustrations
The Blue Page Special 
