The Herbalist

An Irish Book Award winner and instant bestseller in Ireland, The Herbalist is an electrifying novel from Hennessy XO New Irish Writing Award winner, Niamh Boyce. Inspired by real events, it's a deeply moving and viscerally powerful novel about the lives of women in 1930s Ireland - an unforgettable story of love, shame, hypocrisy and courage.One day in a small town in Ireland, the herbalist appears and sets up his stall in the market square. The stranger is exotic and glamorous, and young Emily is spellbound. However, she has competition for the herbalist's attentions. The women of the town - those from big houses and their maids, the shopkeepers and their serving girls, are also mesmerised by the visitor, who they say, can perform miracles. When Emily discovers the miracle workers dark side, her world turns upside down. She may be naïve, but she has a fierce sense of right and wrong. So, with his fate in her hands, Emily faces the biggest decision of her young life.