UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Christopher Rea, associate professor of Asian studies at the University of British Columbia, will present “World of Thieves: The Swindle Story as Genre” at 12:15 p.m. Sept. 19 in 102 Kern Building at University Park.

Rea is author of “The Age of Irreverence: A New History of Laughter in China” (California, 2015) and editor of three books, including “The Business of Culture” (UBC Press, 2015), co-edited with Nicolai Volland. He is currently co-translating a Ming dynasty story collection called “The Book of Swindles.”

This event is a part of the Comparative Literature Luncheon lecture series, a weekly, informal lunchtime gathering of students, faculty and other members of the University community. Each week the event begins at 12:15 p.m. — coffee, tea and light lunch fare are provided. At 12:30 p.m. there will be a presentation, by a visitor or a local speaker, on a topic related to any humanities discipline. All students, faculty, colleagues and friends are welcome. For a full list of Comparative Literature lunches, visit http://complit.la.psu.edu/news-events/comp-lit-luncheon-series.