No results found

Membership Banner 1296x140px Oct 24 ukcjw9
Culture, Literature

The Oxford Literary Festival

divider
“it helps to promote and give platform to a publishers and writers across a wide variety of genres”
books

24 March-2 April 2023

A celebration of 26 years of the world’s meeting place for writers and readers.

“In reviving the Oxford festival [after cancellations due to Covid] – we are determined to reinforce our longstanding commitments to freedom of speech, debate, and diversity; and maintaining our tradition of courteous dialogue, allowing for contentious and difficult subjects to be publicly examined” - Sally Dunsmore SOI Festival Director.

The first Oxford Literary Festival in 1987 featured ten events over a weekend and was attended by 1,000 people: now, visitors can choose between around 250 events over the course of just over a week with around 25,000 tickets are issued in total. For several years, the Oxford Union served as sole location until in 2006 the Festival moved to Christ Church (the first time that an Oxbridge College opened its doors to a major public event). Marquees were erected on the meadows, and Festival goers could hear speakers in the Great Hall, the Library, the Cathedral, and other historic rooms. From 2014, the Festival spread to the College and University venues throughout central Oxford where they take place to this day.

This year’s event will bring new and undiscovered authors and even more of the world’s greatest writers and public figures to Oxford. Not only does the Festival enhance Oxford’s cultural life but it brings economic benefits to the city, providing employment, book sales and many other revenue streams. Most importantly, it helps to promote and give platform to a publishers and writers across a wide variety of genres, including:

Children’s literature

Each year the festival holds over fifty events for children and young people involving some of the leading figures from the UK and overseas. Past speakers have included Dame Jacqueline Wilson and Juno Dawson. This year a host of big names including Cressida Cowell and Michael Morpurgo will be speaking at conveniently timed, family-friendly events.

Poetry

Since the Professorship of Poetry was endowed at Oxford in 1708, the University has educated many famous poets, and poets who have spoken at the festival include Roger McGough, Sir Andrew Motion, Wendy Cope and Patience Agbabi. Joseph Coehlo, the new Children’s Laureate, will be speaking this year at the Sheldonian.

Science and medicine

Medicine has been taught at the University of Oxford since the 12th century. Oxford scientists and medics over the centuries have changed the face of the globe. The festival has attracted world class speakers in this subject, including Nobel Prize winners. This year, Professor Roger Highfield will be speaking at a talk chaired by the new Vice Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey, and turn to pXX to read our interview with Maggie Aderin Pocock MBE, space scientist and science educator.

African literature and culture

The Africa Oxford Initiative (launched in 2016) brings together all teaching and research programmes, together with major collaborations with African Universities and institutions. A highlight this year will be Ejine Nzeribe, Nwabueze Nwokolo, and Sabine Jell-Bahlsen, discussing Nigerian author Flora Nwapa’s life and her posthumously published wor;, Lake Goddess, Voice of African Women.

American literature and culture

Since 2012 the festival has staged a programme each year to celebrate American Literature and Culture. It has become the most distinguished platform for American writers and public figures in the UK.

Indian literature and culture

Journalist and author Puneet Bhandal will be sharing insights into the glamour of Bollywood as part of the Programme of Indian Literature and Culture which has been a mainstay of the Festival for the past nine years.

Celebrations of food and drink

The Oxford Literary Festival has worked with many partners and companies to celebrate the finest traditions of food and drink – including Oxford Gastronomica, Gee’s restaurant in Oxford, and the festival’s consultant chef, Paul Bloomfield. We’re sure that Mary Berry will be a huge draw for visitors to this year’s programme.

Tours of historic landmarks

Each year there are Literary Tours of the City throughout the week: literary Oxford/Oxford Poets/The Oxford of Inspector Morse, Lewis, and Endeavour. As well as this, a selection of historic Oxford libraries will be opened to Festival goers.

Amongst all this, the festival has seen countless well-known speakers in the arts, music, faith, and philosophy as well as biographers and Historians.

For more information, find and download a pocket guide to the festival here: bit.ly/3YwOBcY

RECOMMENDED

War Horse Blenheim ed nix023
Thu 19 Dec 2024

Taking a break from daily shows at New Theatre Oxford, 'Albert' (Tom Sturgess) and his beloved horse ‘Joey’ went to experience the manifold delights of Christmas at Blenheim including

RS820996 6466 2200 hpr guajiy
Thu 28 Nov 2024

Inspiring Minds Since 1683

The Ashmolean Museum

Based in the heart of Oxford, and Britain’s first public museum, the Ashmolean Museum has been inspiring minds since 1683. Free to all and open every day, the Ashmolean offers something

p.209 Fran%C3%A7ois Halard from Modern Artisan Flammarion mgmf4l
Thu 24 Oct 2024

Modern Artisan

A World of Craft Tradition and Innovation

Artisanal crafts are having a renaissance thanks to our growing preferences for fair-trade practices, an urgent call to protect the planet, and a renewed respect for the quality and durability of handmade objects.

Clay Brown Julie Rodrigues Rosalind Holley Lucy Muigai. Photo Credit   Mykola Romanovskyy min lfihky
Wed 16 Oct 2024

In September, the largest-ever gathering of B Corps took place at the inaugural Than Words Festival in Oxford. The organisers' aim was to harness the power of people using business as a force for good, put ideas into action and tackle the issues that matter.