Margaret Atwood to speak at closing dinner

Margaret Drabble also added to 2014 programme

The Canadian author and 2000 Booker winner Margaret Atwood, pictured left, is to be guest speaker at the prestigious HSBC Closing Festival Dinner of the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival in the historic surrounds of Christ Church Great Hall. Atwood has written more than 40 books of fiction, poetry and critical essays, including the classic novel, The Handmaid’s Tale. She will talk about her novels, including MaddAddam, the thrilling conclusion to the internationally celebrated trilogy that started with Oryx and Crake and Year of the Flood. Another late addition to the programme is the award-winning novelist and critic Dame Margaret Drabble, who discusses the life and works of Jules Verne. Drabble is the author of The Pure Gold Baby, and she has recently introduced The Folio Society’s edition of Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea. Meanwhile, a digital version of the 2014 festival brochure is now available to download from the website. The print version should be out by next weekend. Tickets are selling fast for this year's festival and some events have already sold out. You can book via this website, at the festival box office in Blackwell's bookshop, Broad Street, Oxford, or by telephoning 0870 343 1001 Monday-Saturday 10.30am-6pm, and Sunday 11am-5pm.