Mary McAleese, Mary Beard, and Richard Ovenden to Appear at the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival
The FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival has revealed the updated programme for this year’s event, with former President of Ireland Mary McAleese and celebrated classicist Mary Beard joining the line-up.
The full programme, taking place across Oxford between Saturday 2nd and Sunday 10th April features 500 speakers and 300 events across a range of subjects.
Britain’s most well-known classicist Mary Beard will be delivering this year’s Bodley Lecture. Mary will be speaking to the Bodley’s Librarian Richard Ovenden about her life and work - with a focus on the public statements that have often seen her at the centre of controversy. Following the event, Mary will receive the Bodley Medal for outstanding contribution to the worlds of literature, arts, science and communication.
Former Irish President Mary McAleese’s event will be the centrepiece of the Festival’s Irish literature and culture programme. McAleese will be speaking to the Ambassador of Ireland in London, Dan Mulhall, about the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin. In a further discussion, award-winning writer Ruth Dudley Edwards, author and broadcaster Frank Delaney, and Mulhall will also discuss the Easter Rising - and how it has impacted on the development of modern day Ireland. Further talks in the Irish literature and culture programme include an interview with celebrated author Marian Keyes, Patrick Guinness on Ireland’s Georgian Heritage, and Delaney speaking about James Joyce.
Another late addition to the programme is renowned investor and writer Sir Michael Moritz, who will be speaking about Leading, his recent collaboration with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Moritz will discuss how the leadership skills exhibited by Ferguson can be used by anyone to enhance a successful career.
These latest announcements supplement a programme already full of fascinating speakers - including Sir Ian McKellen, Garry Kasparov, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, James Naughtie, Professor Richard Dawkins, and many more.
To book tickets and to keep up to date with all the latest details and speaker announcements please visit the website: http://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/.
