To this day, the 2016 presidential campaign seems an exercise in horror and the uncanny. Thus Williams and Prince treat it as a struggle over who was the metaphorical monster, and to what effect. They show how efforts to cast Donald Trump as monstrous mostly succumbed in the media to his own mini-narratives of monstrosity—by the media, migrants, politicians, Hillary Clinton or women in general, and many others. Especially helpful is the authors’ explanation of audience contributions to making potent metaphors. Whether you’re a fan or foe of metaphors—or monsters—Williams and Prince provide an engaging analysis.

John S. Nelson, University of Iowa

The Monstrous Discourse in the Donald Trump Campaign: Implications for National Discourse is a sharp analysis of recent political discourse and the power of metaphors. It is a timely and important contribution to monster studies.

Sara K. Howe, Southern New Hampshire University

Prince and Williams thoroughly and thoughtfully engage the potentially problematic presence of the monster in American discourse. Their insightful analysis of elements of the Trump presidential campaign gives careful attention to concerning trends and asks us to consider the repercussions of the flippantly deployed monster metaphor.

Mark Patterson, Abilene Christian University