Miss del Río: A Novel of Dolores del Río, the First Major Latina Star in Hollywood
(Graydon House, 2023)

Saturday, September 30
12:30 p.m.
Lewes Public Library Fireplace Reading Area

About the book
In 1910, as civil unrest spreads in Mexico, young Dolores, the daughter of a wealthy banker, must flee her comfortable life in Durango or risk death. Her family settles in Mexico City, where, at 16, she marries the worldly Jaime del Río. At a party she meets an influential American director who invites her to Hollywood, and practically overnight, her days become a whirlwind of moviemaking and glamorous events. But as her career soars, her personal life becomes increasingly complicated, with family tragedy, divorce, and heartache.

About the author
Bárbara Mujica is the bestselling author of four novels, including Frida, about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, which was translated into 17 languages. She is also an award-winning short story writer and essayist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, and other publications. She is professor emerita of Spanish literature at Georgetown University.

Mujica will be in conversation with Phoebe Rowe at the event.

Phoebe Rowe was born and raised in Wilmington, Del., and studied history and journalism at New York University. She works as a brand copywriter and resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. Swan Light, published in May 2023, is her first novel.

Purchase the book
Please help support local independent bookstores by purchasing this book at Browseabout Books, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Online sources and digital versions are tempting; however, supporting local brick and mortar shops helps to preserve our vibrant main streets. Drop by Browseabout, order books online, or call the store at 302-226-2665. You also may purchase a copy at biblion in Lewes.

About the Festival
The History Book Festival is the first and only book festival in the United States devoted exclusively to history. With the help of our presenting funding partners — Delaware Humanities and The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices I PenFed Realty — as well as our program and community partners, volunteers, and donors, the 2023 History Book Festival will be full of great discussions with authors of newly published narrative nonfiction and historical fiction. Our Keynote Address is presented by Sally Mott Freeman and John K. Freeman, and our Closing Address is presented by Dogfish Head Beer & Benevolence.

Special thanks to our program partners for their continuing support: the Lewes Public Library for event promotion and venue; Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, official bookseller of the History Book Festival; Lewes Chamber of Commerce for event promotion, and the Cape Gazette and Delmarva Public Media, our media partners.

Additional thanks to our community partners: ACLU Delaware, Beebe Healthcare, CAMP Rehoboth, Historic Lewes Farmers Market, Lewes Historical Society, Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach Historical Society & Museum, Seaside Jewish Community, and Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ).