Biting the Dust: The Joys of Housework

In this witty look at our obsession with cleaning, Horsfield confronts her own dirt demons & scours the social, historical, literary, & psychological nooks & crannies of the world of household chores. Through historical research, countless interviews & an analysis of characters from novels & advertising, she presents such memorable personalities as the woman who sends her small daughter to walk around other people s houses in white tights. From demented television housewives to the redoubtable Mrs. Beeton, this book runs the gamut of ideas & emotions & throws light on a subject that is rich, strange &, oddly enough, highly entertaining.