Nobel winner Kazuo Ishiguro and comedian Jo Brand among speakers announced for 2019

Nobel winner Kazuo Ishiguro and comedian Jo Brand among speakers a

Nobel prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro is among a host of leading speakers announced today for the 2019 FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival. Ishiguro will speak about his life and work and receive the Bodley medal for his outstanding contribution to literature. Other leading speakers from the world of fiction include thriller writer Robert Harris, who gives the Chancellor's Lecture, Chocolat author Joanne Harris, who receives the festival's honorary fellowship, and crime writer Val McDermid. Comedian Jo Brand talks about her darkly funny guide to life as a woman, and explorer and adventurer Ranulph Fiennes talks about his life. Leading journalists speaking include former BBC stalwarts Martin Bell and Kate Adie, former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, and the environmentalist and activist George Monbiot. Science is represented by Astronomer Royal Martin Rees on the future of humanity, by broadcaster and fertility treatment pioneer Robert Winston, and by Nobel Prize-winning biologist Venki Ramakrishnan. Historians Simon Schama and Diarmaid MacCulloch appear, and former ballerina now Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell talks about her life and career. One of the world's leading legal minds and former official in the Obama administration Cass Sunstein talks about social change, and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson makes a case for justice on climate change. Tickets are on sale now through this website or by telephoning the box office at 0333 666 3366 (a booking fee of £1.75 applies to purchases made through the telephone box office).

Morpurgo and Kerr head children's line-up

Michael Morpurgo and Judith Kerr head another great line-up of events for children and young people at this year's festival. Morpurgo talks about the creation of a children's laureate 20 years ago, while Kerr is joined by fellow author/illustrator Benji Davies to talk about creating children's classics. Other authors in the children and young people programme include historian Lucy Worsley, Murder Most Unladylike author Robin Stevens, Horrid Henry creator Francesca Simon, and cultural historian Janina Ramirez with her first children's book. There's also a return for the popular Harry Potter celebration show.

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The Oxford Literary Festival sponsors, donors & partners

The Telegraph Festival media partner University of Oxford European Union Supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the UK Cultural Relations Platform Supporter of the festival's Voices of Europe programme Bodleian Libraries Festival cultural partner Oxford Martin School Festival ideas partner Oxford Mathematics Spanish Embassy The Spanish Embassy: supporters of the programme of Spanish literature and culture Cervantes Institute, London The Cervantes Institute, London elBullifoundation Blackwell’s Festival on-site and online bookseller Symington Wines of the Douro Valley Compassion in World Farming Pasture to Plate Oxford Business College Where learning meets opportunity: education partners of the festival Old Bank Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Old Parsonage Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Oxford Brookes University Oxford International Centre for Publishing Critchleys Accountants to the festival Confucius Institute Voltaire Foundation Felicity Bryan Associates Goldmoney Properties Princeton University Press Prestige publishing partner. Celebrating 25 years in Europe in 2024 Oxford University Department for Continuing Education Jewish Book Week Partner of Oxford Literary Festival Jim Mellon Miles Young Tim and Marion Stevenson Martin and Elise Becket Smith Ian and Carol Sellars David Isaac Mary and Cecil Quillen Supporters of the programme of American literature and culture Other donors Yale University Press London New College New College founded 1379 Exeter College Exeter College: college home of the festival. Founded 1314 Worcester College Worcester College founded 1714 Lincoln College Lincoln College founded 1427 Trinity College Trinity College founded 1555 Magdalen College Magdalen College founded 1458 Reuben College Reuben College founded in 2019 Pusey House Founded 1884 Brasenose College Brasenose College founded in 1512 New Dutch Writing Human Ecology Project MACROVegan Bear Ram Elk Festival Digital Strategy & Web Design Racalia Olive Oil Olive oil from Sicily Paul Bloomfield Ltd University of Oxford Alumni Office Alumni Office The Sheldonian Theatre Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Oxford University Images Oxford University Images CAV Oxford The Litmus Partnership Schoolreaders Windrush Group The Oxford Times BBC Radio Oxford Local radio partner Conference Oxford Ox in a Box OX magazine