Abandoned ship : an intimate account of the Costa Concordia shipwreck
(Books)

On January 13, 2012, the Costa Concordia, a thousand foot long luxury cruise ship twice the size of the Titanic, ventured into shallow water and smashed into the rocks of a tiny island off the coast of Italy, throwing the four thousand passengers and crew members into a state of chaos. The captain and officers all abandoned ship, leaving a few remaining castaways to fend for themselves as the ship toppled onto its side and water flooded into the passenger decks. In the wee hours of the night, newlyweds Benji Smith and Emily Lau held onto a rope, clinging precariously to the side of the sinking ship and desperately hoping for rescue. By this point, the lifeboats had all gone. They had been left behind. This gripping, thoughtful memoir tells the remarkable story of the couple's harrowing escape and their long journey home, as well as their quest to find hope and meaning in the aftermath of a tragedy.--Back cover.