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Endeavour signs ‘extraordinary’ account of cruise ship during Covid-19
Endeavour has secured Cabin Fever, “the harrowing story" of the Zaandam cruise ship which was struck by Covid-19 in March 2020, by investigative journalists Jonathan Franklin and Michael Smith.
Claudia Connal, publishing director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Annabel Merullo at PFD. It will be published on 14th July 2022.
In early 2020, the ship was preparing to sail from Buenos Aires loaded with 1,200 passengers‚—British, American, Australian, European and South American tourists, plus 600 crew. Most passengers were over the age of 65. Within days, people aboard began to fall sick. The world’s ports shut down, and Zaandam became a top story on the news as it was denied safe harbour everywhere. With only two doctors aboard and few medical supplies to test for or treat Covid-19, and with dwindling food and water, the ship “wandered the oceans on an unthinkable journey”.
Cabin Fever takes readers behind the scenes of the ship’s complex workings and below decks into the personal lives of passengers and crew who were caught unprepared for the deadly ordeal that lay ahead. “It is a story layered with moments of peril, perseverance and kindness,” the publisher said.
Michael Smith is an investigative reporter at Bloomberg Businessweek and Jonathan Franklin is a public speaker, investigative journalist and author. Franklin’s previous books include A Wild Idea (HarperOne), 438 Days: An extraordinary story of survival at sea (Pan) and 33 Men (Putnam Pub Group), the inside account of the dramatic Chilean mining rescue and a US bestseller.
Connal said of the announcement, “The events that unfolded onboard the Zaandam cruise ship were nothing short of extraordinary. It is a tale filled with remarkable acts of heroism. Michael Smith and Jonathan Franklin are two hugely talented journalists who have conducted an exhaustive investigation in order to write a narrative that recreates the stifling claustrophobia onboard the ship, a story that is by turns gripping and heartbreaking. In Cabin Fever we see the triumph of the human spirit at the darkest of times.”
The pair added: “Investigating this story was a lesson in humility and a showcase of humanity. Despite the tremendous odds against them, the teamwork and bravery shown by the crew of the Zaandam was remarkable. Alone at sea, with no one else to turn to, hundreds of crew members from dozens of nations battled together to survive at sea.”
