Sheldonian Events | Oxford Literary Festival

Harry Potter

Celebrating the Harry Potter books
Sheldonian Theatre 10:00am Sat 30 Saturday, 30 March 2019 See this event
Darcey Bussell Interviewed by Nick Higham

Evolved SOLD OUT
Sheldonian Theatre 12:00pm Sat 30 Saturday, 30 March 2019 See this event
Lucy Worsley

Lady Mary: Tales of Tudor Intrigue SOLD OUT
Sheldonian Theatre 2:00pm Sat 30 Saturday, 30 March 2019 See this event
Martin Rees Interviewed by Ian Goldin

Princeton Lecture. On the Future: Prospects for Humanity
Sheldonian Theatre 4:00pm Sat 30 Saturday, 30 March 2019 See this event
George Monbiot

Out of the Wreckage: A New Politics for an Age of Crisis
Sheldonian Theatre 6:00pm Sat 30 Saturday, 30 March 2019 See this event
Mary Robinson Interviewed by Nick Higham

Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience, and the Fight for a Sustainable Future
Sheldonian Theatre 10:00am Sun 31 Sunday, 31 March 2019 See this event
Martin Bell, Kate Adie and Deric Henderson Chaired by Ivan Little

Reporting the Troubles: Journalists on the Northern Ireland Conflict
Sheldonian Theatre 12:00pm Sun 31 Sunday, 31 March 2019 See this event
Sam Willis and James Daybell

Histories of the Unexpected
Sheldonian Theatre 2:00pm Sun 31 Sunday, 31 March 2019 See this event
Simon Schama Interviewed by Matthew Stadlen

An Audience with Simon Schama
Sheldonian Theatre 4:00pm Sun 31 Sunday, 31 March 2019 See this event
Marcus du Sautoy

The Creativity Code: How AI is Learning to Write, Paint and Think
Sheldonian Theatre 5:00pm Mon 1 Monday, 1 April 2019 See this event
Robert Winston Interviewed by Matthew Stadlen

An Audience with Robert Winston
Sheldonian Theatre 6:00pm Tue 2 Tuesday, 2 April 2019 See this event
Alan Rusbridger Interviewed by Matthew Stadlen

Breaking News: The Remaking of Journalism and Why It Matters Now
Sheldonian Theatre 10:00am Wed 3 Wednesday, 3 April 2019 See this event
Ranulph Fiennes Interviewed by Rupert Lancaster

An Audience with Ranulph Fiennes
Sheldonian Theatre 12:00pm Wed 3 Wednesday, 3 April 2019 See this event
Mary Beard Interviewed by Brooke Masters

Women and Power: A Manifesto SOLD OUT
Sheldonian Theatre 2:15pm Wed 3 Wednesday, 3 April 2019 See this event
Diarmaid MacCulloch Interviewed by Mary Beard

British Academy Lecture. Thomas Cromwell: A Life
Sheldonian Theatre 4:15pm Wed 3 Wednesday, 3 April 2019 See this event
Kazuo Ishiguro Interviewed by Richard Ovenden

Bodley Lecture and Award of Bodley Medal SOLD OUT
Sheldonian Theatre 6:00pm Wed 3 Wednesday, 3 April 2019 See this event
Robert Harris Interviewed by Chris Patten

Chancellor’s Lecture: Life and Work
Sheldonian Theatre 6:00pm Thu 4 Thursday, 4 April 2019 See this event
David Owen Interviewed by Louise Richardson

Vice-Chancellor’s Lecture. Hubris, Brexit and A Life in Politics
Sheldonian Theatre 4:00pm Fri 5 Friday, 5 April 2019 See this event
Jo Brand

Born Lippy: How to do Female SOLD OUT
Sheldonian Theatre 6:00pm Fri 5 Friday, 5 April 2019 See this event
Robin Stevens

Death in the Spotlight
Sheldonian Theatre 10:00am Sat 6 Saturday, 6 April 2019 See this event
Cass Sunstein Interviewed by Tim Harford

How Change Happens
Sheldonian Theatre 12:00pm Sat 6 Saturday, 6 April 2019 See this event
Val McDermid Interviewed by Nicolette Jones

A Life Of Crime
Sheldonian Theatre 2:00pm Sat 6 Saturday, 6 April 2019 See this event
Benji Davies Interviewed by Nicolette Jones

Creating Children’s Classics
Sheldonian Theatre 4:00pm Sat 6 Saturday, 6 April 2019 See this event
Michael Heseltine Interviewed by Lionel Barber

FT Weekend Lecture. Brexit: Where does Britain go Next?
Sheldonian Theatre 6:30pm Sat 6 Saturday, 6 April 2019 See this event
Francesca Simon

Horrid Henry: Up, Up and Away! CANCELLED
Sheldonian Theatre 10:00am Sun 7 Sunday, 7 April 2019 See this event
Bart van Es Interviewed by Hannah Beckerman

The Cut Out Girl
Sheldonian Theatre 10:00am Sun 7 Sunday, 7 April 2019 See this event
Michael Morpurgo

A Laureate Celebration
Sheldonian Theatre 12:00pm Sun 7 Sunday, 7 April 2019 See this event
Janina Ramirez

Riddle of the Runes
Sheldonian Theatre 2:00pm Sun 7 Sunday, 7 April 2019 See this event
Joanne Harris Interviewed by Suzi Feay

The Strawberry Thief and Honorary Fellowship of Oxford Literary Festival
Sheldonian Theatre 4:00pm Sun 7 Sunday, 7 April 2019 See this event

Festival information:

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.

It was a privilege for me to visit the festival to receive the Bodley Medal. As an incidental blessing I saw Oxford at its most mysterious and atmospheric. It was a day of piercing cold and as I walked through the twilight from the Sheldonian to Christ Church, the streets were empty and the whole city was shutting itself away. Christ Church was silent except for the footfall of unseen persons around corners and the sounds of evensong creeping from behind closed doors. For the first time I understood thoroughly the power of college ghost stories.

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

The Oxford Literary Festival is intellectual Viagra.

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.

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.

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 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

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