Classicist Mary Beard and ex-President of Ireland Mary McAleese confirmed

Britain’s best known classicist Mary Beard is to speak at festival

Britain’s best known classicist Professor Mary Beard, pictured right, is to speak at the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival about her life and work and the public statements that have often seen her at the centre of controversy. Beard will also receive the prestigious Bodley Medal. The festival also welcomes the former Irish President Dr Mary McAleese, who will talk about the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, the development of Ireland and the evolution of Anglo-Irish relations. Other new events added to the programme include notable investor and philanthropist Sir Michael Moritz talking about his work with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson on the book, Leading. Around 270 events have now been published on the festival website. The festival takes place between Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 10. A pocket guide to the festival will be available to pick up at Blackwell's Bookshop at the end of next week. You can download the digital version from the website now. Events can be booked online now via this website. A walk-in and telephone box office (0870 343 1001 calls cost 6.7p a minute, plus your phone company's access charge) is open at Blackwell's Bookshop, Oxford, Mon-Sat 9am-6.30pm (9.30am Tues) and Sun 11am-5pm.