After studying at Edinburgh University, Emily Edwards worked for a think tank in New York before returning to London where she worked as a support worker for vulnerable women at a large charity. She now lives in Lewes, East Sussex with her endlessly patient husband and her two endlessly energetic young sons. The inspiration for The Herd came when she was eight months pregnant with her first son, and her husband and their vaccine-hesitant doula had an impassioned 'debate' about vaccination in their garden. As she sat there with her hands over her huge stomach listening to them both, Emily realized this was an issue which impacts us all and that it would make a brilliant topic for a novel.
It is hard to imagine a more timely novel than The Herd, which explores vaccination and weighs personal freedom against public health. A fascinating exploration of all sides of a particularly knotty, politicized issue. * Jodi Picoult, NYT bestselling author of WISH YOU WERE HERE * Wow! What an incredible book, and so timely. I was riveted! Really beautifully written, compassionately told and incredibly thought provoking. A truly immersive telling of both sides of a story. * Susan Lewis * I loved this book. It put me through the emotional wringer. A genuine rollercoaster that asks big moral questions with beautifully drawn characters who left me in tears but also full of hope * Sharon Horgan * Gripping, thought-provoking, moving and oh-so-topical, The Herd tackles the most divisive parenting issue of our age with skill and compassion. Fans of Jodi Picoult will DEVOUR it. * Tammy Cohen * Insightful, compassionate and nuanced. The Herd is so good. * Louise O'Neill *