Representations of the Mother-in-Law in Literature, Film, Drama, and Television

Jo Parnell has curated an enthralling and exceptional collection of essays on media representations of an almost entirely neglected figure in our social, cultural and familial landscape – the mother-in-law. Acknowledging, exploring and, at times, refuting, the pervasive negative stereotype of the trope of the mother-in-law, it is so exciting to see the work of scholars from a range of countries and continents side by side as they investigate this much-maligned figure. From its discussions of representations in Roman Antiquity to those on television tonight, this volume is a must-read – for elucidation and scholarly reference, and for the pure pleasure of reading the insightful writings collected. -- Donna Lee Brien, CQ University
This sweeping collection of essays, with their global and interdisciplinary focus, brings long overdue scholarly attention to a figure deeply engrained in every day life, literature. and popular culture. Deconstructing the cliche of the monstrous mother-in-law, the contributors reveal instead a complex, multilayered figure shaped by class, race, patriarchy, and nationhood. Parnell's skillfully edited volume explores texts from antiquity to contemporary reality TV to understand the larger social and political forces that continue to shape (mis)representations of the mother-in-law. -- Julie Taddeo, University of Maryland