Sophie Elmhirst has won the Nero Gold Prize 2024 Book of the Year, delivered in partnership with Brunel University of London – announced this evening at a ceremony which also saw the launch of the Nero New Writers Prize in association with Brunel.
The author won with Maurice and Maralyn: An Extraordinary True Story of Shipwreck, Survival and Love (published by Chatto & Windus) – a captivating true story of a couple in the 1970s who are shipwrecked in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for 118 days on a life raft, after their boat is struck by a whale.
The £30,000 prize and trophy were presented to Sophie Elmhirst tonight by Chair of Judges Bill Bryson at a ceremony in central London, hosted by broadcast journalist Sarah Montague. Celebrated journalist and bestselling author Bill Bryson chaired a judging panel that also included Bernardine Evaristo, creative writing professor at Brunel, award-winning author and President of the Royal Society of Literature, and Emily Maitlis, journalist, former lead anchor of BBC Two’s Newsnight and host of The News Agents podcast on LBC.
Bill Bryson, Chair of Judges said: “Maurice and Maralyn is an enthralling, engrossing story of survival and the resilience of the human spirit. Impressively novelistic in its narrative approach, it is a gripping retelling of a true but forgotten story. It is a story of a marriage as much as of an adventure at sea, one that subtly explores the dynamics of a relationship under the greatest imaginable stress. Shining through is the heroine’s courage and fortitude; as Maurice flounders, it is Maralyn’s strength that allows them to survive at sea for 118 days – the book is a tribute to Maralyn’s grit. Sophie Elmhirst’s writing is understated but powerful, immersing the reader intimately in the unfolding drama and the horror of struggling to survive against the odds with very few resources. We unanimously agreed that Maurice and Maralyn is a non-fiction work that reaches the highest literary eminence, and we are delighted to announce it as the Nero Gold Prize 2024 Book of the Year.”
The Nero Book Awards are the only set of multi-category awards open exclusively to writers based in the UK and Ireland and have already established themselves as ‘one of Britain and Ireland’s top literary prizes’ (The Observer). The awards celebrate outstanding books and writers of the last 12 months across four categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Debut Fiction and Children’s Fiction. A winner from each category was awarded in January who were then in the running for the Nero Gold Prize. Maurice and Maralyn beat out Wild Houses, Lost in the Garden and The Twelve to win the overall prize.
Maurice and Maralyn is a narrative non-fiction book that charts the true story of a couple in the 1970s who, bored of suburban life in Derby, decide to sell their house, build a boat and set sail for New Zealand. However, halfway across the world, their boat is struck by a whale, and they are cast adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for 118 days on a small lifeboat. Theirs is a story of how we survive, both at sea and in life. It is also a love story, recounting how Maurice and Maralyn’s marriage survived the shipwreck. Maurice and Maralyn is Sophie Elmhirst’s first book, following an accomplished career as an award-winning journalist, having received a British Press Award in 2020 for Feature Writer of the Year as well as being shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Journalism in 2024.
Gerry Ford, Founder and Group CEO of Caffè Nero said: “I am absolutely delighted that Maurice and Maralyn was chosen as the Nero Gold Prize 2024 winner by our renowned final judging panel. It was an incredibly difficult decision for the judges as all four titles were worthy winners, but this extraordinary true tale of a couple shipwrecked at sea for 118 days is a story that will stay with readers for years to come. These Awards highlight outstanding books published in the UK and Ireland and Maurice and Maralyn represents the best of the best. I would like to personally congratulate Sophie Elmhirst on winning the 2024 Nero Gold Prize which is very well deserved.”
Gerry Ford, Prof Jonathan Wastling and Bill Bryson
Nero New Writers Prize in association with Brunel University of London
Also announced at tonight’s ceremony was a brand-new prize, The Nero New Writers Prize in association with Brunel University of London. The prize aims to discover emerging talent by recognising unpublished and aspiring writers and supporting them with their work.
Running in conjunction with the main Nero Book Awards, entrants will be asked to submit a piece of original, unpublished adult fiction, children's fiction or creative non-fiction up to 5000 words. The judging panel will consist of two members of the Brunel Creative Writing faculty plus an author as Chair. They will be looking for outstanding writing that will appeal to a wide range of readers.
The winner will receive a cash prize, which will be presented at the Nero Book Awards gala ceremony. They will also receive a scholarship to study for an MA in Creative Writing at Brunel University of London, as well as an introductory meeting with a literary agent, facilitated by Brunel.
Prof Jonathan Wastling announcing The Nero New Writers Prize
Announcing the new prize this evening, Brunel’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Jonathan Wastling said: “This is an extraordinary opportunity and a statement of our shared commitment with Caffè Nero to find, nurture, and champion the literary stars of the future.
“At Brunel, this mission is at the heart of everything we do. Many of our Creative Writing team are award-winning authors themselves. Our department has a proud history of mentoring emerging voices and shaping the literary landscape, and this prize will help us continue that tradition.
“Brunel has always been driven by a deep commitment to social change. We believe talent should never be constrained by background or circumstance. Whether in education, the arts, or beyond, we want to ensure that everyone - regardless of where they come from – is given the opportunity to succeed. The Nero New Writing Prize is an extension of that belief. We are incredibly proud to partner with Caffè Nero on this exciting venture.”
The Prize will be open to adults based in the UK and Ireland from the age of 18 and further expands Caffè Nero’s support for emerging artistic talent, which already sees unsigned musical artists promoted nationwide through Caffè Nero’s in-store music programme. More information on the Nero New Writers Prize can be found at www.nerobookawards.com.
Brunel's Dr Jessica Cox (Creative Writing), Nicola Rogers (Chief of Staff), Prof Jonathan Wastling (Deputy Vice-Chancellor), Helen Cullen (Creative Writing) and Prof Geoff Rodgers (Pro Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise and Employment)
The Nero Book Awards are run as not-for-profit by the independent, family-owned coffee house group Caffè Nero in partnership with The Booksellers Association, Brunel University of London and Right to Dream. They are part of Caffè Nero’s long-standing programme to sponsor and encourage the arts and culture in its coffee houses and communities where it operates. Their mission is to point readers of all ages and interests in the direction of outstanding books and writers and encourage and inspire writers and readers to express their ideas and creative endeavours as a means to enrich the world.
To be eligible for the 2024 Nero Book Awards, books must have been first published in English in the UK or Ireland between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024. At the time of entry, authors must have been alive and resident in the UK or Ireland for the past three years.
For full details of the shortlists follow Nero Book Awards on X and Instagram. For additional information, visit nerobookawards.com.
Reported by:
Press Office,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 266867
press-office@brunel.ac.uk