Who Am I?
I’m Edna Bonhomme, a historian of science, culture writer, and journalist based in Berlin. I earned a Ph.D. in the History of Science from Princeton University and a Master of Public Health from Columbia University. Furthermore, I have previously held fellowships at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Ludwig Maximilian University, the Camargo Foundation, Baldwin for the Arts, the Robert Silvers Foundation, and the Andy Warhol Foundation. I was born and raised in Miami (unfortunately, based in Florida), meaning I love subtropical beaches and sunshine. When I’m not working, I’m eating plantains and scheming with friends.
What am I writing?
As a cultural writer, my essays critically examine how humans navigate the complex and challenging states of health, particularly in subjects such as contagious outbreaks, medical experiments, reproductive assistance, and illness narratives. These days, I write essays, features, and book reviews; my words have appeared in Al Jazeera, The Atlantic Magazine, Baffler, Esquire, Frieze, The Guardian, London Review of Books, The Nation, and other publications.
My book, A History of the World in Six Plagues, examines the role of confinement in both fostering and hindering epidemics. Moreover, the text suggests that disease outbreaks have been exacerbated throughout history by the racial, economic, and sociopolitical divides that we allow to flourish during periods of good health. I am co-editor, alongside Alice Spawls, of After Sex (Silver Press, 2023), an anthology exploring reproductive freedom. These essays, short stories, and poems trace past understandings of sex and abortion and consider what it might look like, making urgent connections between women’s equality and bodily autonomy.
How can you reach me?
Don't hesitate to contact me about writing magazine features, composing nuanced essays, reviewing recent books, nominating me for an award, or exchanging plantain recipes. You can reach me here if you’d like to get in touch. You can also follow me on Twitter to hear my occasional rants. Finally, I am represented by Ian Bonaparte at Janklow & Nesbit. For literary inquiries, please get in touch with him directly.
