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Podcast: New Books in Latino Studies
Episode: Bárbara Mujica, "Miss Del RÃo: A Novel of Dolores del RÃo, the First Major Latina Star in Hollywood" (Graydon House Books, 2022)
Description: Miss del RÃo (Graydon House Books, 2022) explores the biography of a real-life actress, Dolores del RÃo, who became a silent movie star in Hollywood, navigated the transition to talkies, and eventually played a role in the establishment of the film industry in her home country of Mexico. The story plays out against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, which influences the lives of the characters in ways both direct and subtle. Add to all this a dramatic tale of the fictional MarÃa Amparo (Mara)—Dolores’s hairdresser, confidante, and wry chronicler—and you have a novel that breaks...