Comparative Literature

Mahmoud Muna is a bookstore owner, comedian, and cultural icon of East Jerusalem. He is a regular contributor to the current affairs media and writes for several local publications. The Jerusalem-based Muna family owns and operates the Educational Bookstore on Salah Eddin Street. Several decades ago, it was noted critic Edward Said’s family who originally owned the bookstore.

Alonso Cueto, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, will deliver a talk about his forthcoming historical novel (yet untitled) about the famous actress and entertainer María Micaela Villegas y Hurtado de Mendoza, known as La Perricholi, arguably the most famous Peruvian woman of the 18th century. Villegas y Hurtado de Mendoza was known for being the mistress of the Peruvian Viceroy Manuel de Amat y Juniet, but in his novel Cueto attempts to provide a nuanced portrait of this figure in order to shed light on Colonial life in Peru. Cueto’s novel will be released in mid 2019. Dr.