Publishing | Oxford Literary Festival

David Fickling, Candy Gourlay and Dan Freedman

What Makes a Great Children’s Book?
St Cross College 12:00pm Sat 30 Saturday, 30 March 2019 See this event
Geraldine McCaughrean

Words, Words, Words: The Case Against Dumbing Down
Bodleian: Divinity School 12:00pm Sun 31 Sunday, 31 March 2019 See this event
Rachel Moss Interviewed by Janina Ramirez

The Book of Durrow
Weston Lecture Theatre 2:00pm Sun 31 Sunday, 31 March 2019 See this event
Jeremy Robson Interviewed by Maureen Lipman

Under Cover: A Poet’s Life in Publishing
Worcester College: Lecture Theatre 4:00pm Sun 31 Sunday, 31 March 2019 See this event
Tim Waterstone Interviewed by Nick Higham

The Face pressed Against a Window
Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room 2:00pm Thu 4 Thursday, 4 April 2019 See this event
Cristina Dondi

Printed Books: The First 50 years
Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room 4:00pm Fri 5 Friday, 5 April 2019 See this event

Festival information:

The Oxford Literary Festival is intellectual Viagra.

I loved the whole atmosphere of the Oxford Literary Festival. From breakfast, alongside some of the attendees, who were talking books with each other a mile a minute, to the public event at The Sheldonian where everyone was lively and engaged – I felt I had arrived in a kind of literary heaven.

Often as an author, I only occasionally get to meet the public who buy and read my books. The Oxford Literary Festival was a special opportunity for me and certainly one of the highlights of my career – it was an honour I will never forget.

The Oxford festival is the most elegant and atmospheric of literary festivals. It’s a pleasure to both attend and perform there.

I came away buzzing and reassured that we still have in this century a wide ranging community fascinated not just by famous authors (I’ve rarely seen so many concentrated in one place) but by challenging ideas and questions.

The night in Oxford was the most beautiful event I have ever done. Not just the spectacular setting (of the Sheldonian), but an unforgettable evening.

Every literary festival stays in an author’s mind for slightly individual reasons. I shall remember the Oxford festival for: - the size of the audience: at the top end of the range - their intelligence – this makes a huge difference for a speaker. In the Oxford audience I encountered many experts in the field my book covered and even one of the ambassadors I’d quoted - the beauty and the grace of the place itself – incomparable - the willingness of my hearers to buy books afterwards; I’ve never sold more.

A stimulating and rewarding on-stage conversation; a lively informed and tolerant audience; privileged access to the great treasures of the Bodleian, and finally, wonderfully interesting dinner companions to help me conclude the best day I have enjoyed at any festival – anywhere.

The Oxford Literary Festival sponsors, donors & partners

Partner of Oxford Literary Festival

Prestige publishing partner. Celebrating 25 years in Europe in 2024

Accountants to the festival

Oxford International Centre for Publishing

Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection

Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection

Where learning meets opportunity: education partners of the festival

Wines of the Douro Valley

Festival on-site and online bookseller

The Cervantes Institute, London

The Spanish Embassy: supporters of the programme of Spanish literature and culture

Festival ideas partner

Festival cultural partner

Supporter of the festival's Voices of Europe programme

Supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the UK

Festival media partner

Supporters of the programme of American literature and culture

Brasenose College founded in 1512

Founded 1884

Reuben College founded in 2019

Magdalen College founded 1458

Trinity College founded 1555

Lincoln College founded 1427

Worcester College founded 1714

Exeter College: college home of the festival. Founded 1314

New College founded 1379

Oxford University Images

Alumni Office

Olive oil from Sicily

Festival Digital Strategy & Web Design

Local radio partner