Rights frenzy at Pan Mac for Holocaust survivor memoir

Pan Macmillan has snapped up Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku's memoir The Happiest Man on Earth, and has sold the title into 22 languages over just three weeks amid a frenzy of bids.

The book, an “uplifting story of resilience in the face of terrible adversity”, has been a number one bestseller in Australia since its August publication by Pan Macmillan Australia, just after Jaku's 100th birthday.

Ingrid Connell, editorial director at Pan Macmillan, snapped up UK & Commonwealth rights from Cate Blake, non-fiction publisher at Pan Mac Australia, for release on 12th November 2020. The publisher's UK rights team have now sold Jaku’s book into 22 languages, with multi-publisher auctions in many territories.

Pan Mac explained: “Eddie Jaku always considered himself a German first, a Jew second. He was proud of his country. But all of that changed in November 1938, when he was beaten, arrested and taken to a concentration camp. Over the next seven years, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors every day, first in Buchenwald, then in Auschwitz, then on a Nazi death march. He lost family, friends, his country.

"Because he survived, Eddie made a vow to smile every day. He pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom and living his best possible life. Despite everything he has endured, he now believes he is the ‘happiest man on earth’.”

Jaku said: "I'm so delighted that readers all around the world will soon be sharing my story. I hope that it will make them smile, and help them to remember those we have lost. Life is a gift and happiness is in your hands.”

Sophie Brewer, associate publisher, said: “In a year where all our relationships have had to be remote and book fairs have been moved to entirely digital affairs, it's heartening and exciting to see a title that offers such hope being picked up by publishers around the world.  The rights team have done an incredible job to re-create a Frankfurt 'buzz' around this book while working away from each other and unable to meet their contacts face to face.”