Daniel Monk

Suzanne Lenon

This book makes a compelling case for placing the social and legal practices of inheritance centre stage to make sense of fundamental questions of our time. Drawing on historical, literary, sociological, and legal analysis, this is a rich collection of original and international contributions. The book demonstrates how inheritance is, and has always been, about far more than the set of legal processes for the distribution of wealth and property upon death. The contributions range from exploring the intractable tensions underlying family disputes, legal arguments, and political debates about taxation, to revisiting literary plots in the past and presenting a contemporary artistic challenge of heirship. Revealing the richness and complexity of ideas about 'passing on', 'legacies', and 'heirlooms', the book troubles some of the enduring consequences of 'charitable bequests', 'family money', and 'estate planning'. It makes clear the importance of feminist, queer, and critical perspectives on practices of inheritance. With an introduction that presents a critical mapping of the field of inheritance studies, this fascinating, imaginative, interdisciplinary collection deepens our understanding of the stakes of inheritance law.

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