Summary

Prologue – It is 1914. Grace Winter is twenty-two, has been married for ten weeks, and has been a widow for more than six. She, Hannah West, and Ursula Grant are on trial for their lives. Grace exits the court in a downpour, and opens her mouth to the rain as she did in the lifeboat with Mary Ann and Hannah. Grace’s three lawyers, including William Reichmann, Mr. Ligget, and Mr. Glover, hired by Grace’s mother-in-law, are confused by her behavior. Reichmann questions if Grace has gone mad. Mr. Glover puts his jacket around Grace as they head to lunch. The lawyers contemplate an insanity defense, and think they should meet with Dr. Coleman. They also tell Grace to write down a diary of the twenty-one days she was at sea in the lifeboat.

Part I, Day One – Grace and numerous others take seat...