Festival launches autumn programme

More than 40 events listed in October and November

Classicist and cultural commentator Dame Mary Beard returns to the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival this autumn to talk about her new book on how images of Roman autocrats have influenced art, culture and the representation of power for more than 2,000 years. Beard is among more than 50 speakers to appear at an autumn programme of events over five days in October and November. The programme features nine events rearranged from the 2020 festival including a talk by the BBC wildlife presenter Chris Packham. New events include Turkish-British novelist Elif Shafak and Chocolat author Joanne Harris on their new novels, philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley, children's author Sir Michael Morpurgo, thought leader Noreena Hertz, and biographer and former features director of Vogue Justine Picardie. Tickets are on sale on this website, or by telephoning the box office at 0333 666 3366 (a booking fee of £1.80 applies to purchases made through the telephone box office). The autumn programme includes nine events rearranged from the 2020 festival. Tickets originally purchased for these events remain valid unless they were exchanged for credits. You will have received a separate email notification from us if you have a valid ticket. Chris Packham will talk about his passion for the environment and wildlife and the need for changes in the way we farm. Also rescheduled are Alexander McCall Smith, who receives the festival's honorary fellowship; shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, and former Labour cabinet minister Yvette Cooper on women in Parliament; House of Lords crossbencher Rabbi Julia Neuberger; and space scientist and The Sky at Night presenter Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock. Completing the rearranged events are Iain MacGregor on the history of Checkpoint Chariie and the Berlin Wall; Professor Arthur Miller on how artificial intelligence is creating art; doctor and broadcaster Jenny Goodman on staying healthy; and academic and writer Helen Taylor on why women read fiction. Note: if you exchanged a ticket for one of these rearranged events for a credit, you will need to use your credit to rebook.