Starting from the historical link between criminality and sexual deviancy, Lynda Hart builds a complex and original theory in which the shadow of the lesbian animates representations of violent women in literature, plays, films and performance. Chapters detail this theory in diverse areas, including: * Frank Wedekind's Lulu Plays * Thelma and Louise and Basic Instinct * the performance art of Karen Finley in the context of censorship debates * The Split Britches' performance Lesbians Who Kill Fatal Women is a major contribution to lesbian theory and cultural studies. It is a challenging, stimulating and rewarding study.