2010 Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival
by Ernie on 27/02/10 at 4:24 pm
The 2010 Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival from Saturday 20th to Sunday 28th March offers a wonderful range of talks, discussions, debates, readings, Literary Lunches and Dinners in Christ Church and Corpus Christi College—with many major events staged in The Sheldonian Theatre, The Bodleian Library and other venues.
The Festival reflects the great literary traditions of The University of Oxford, and its historic Colleges, as well as the contemporary reputation of its Departments and Institutes in every field of scholarship, research and enquiry.
Novelists, biographers, historians, poets, critics, politicians, soldiers, public servants, scientists, and medics will be joined by artists, philosophers, theologians, architects, engineers, botanists, environmentalists and children’s writers.
The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival is widely acclaimed for its stimulating and provocative programme and the quality and fearlessness of its debates. This year we introduce a series of major lectures and presentations at The Sheldonian Theatre, with World-class speakers, and we re-launch the Children’s Festival under the direction of Nicolette Jones, Children’s Editor of The Sunday Times.
But above all the unique feature of The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival is the warmth of the welcome for all who attend, and the opportunity for the general public to meet and mix with authors, writers and public figures, from breakfast in hallowed halls to nightcaps in bars, inns and hotels throughout the city.
CHRIST CHURCH, HOME OF THE FESTIVAL
Christ Church is the most magnificent and architecturally imposing of all the Oxford Colleges.
Cardinal’s College was founded by Thomas Wolsey—Lord Chancellor of England—in 1525. Following Wolsey’s fall from power, it was re-founded by King Henry VIII in 1546, as a unique dual foundation of both College and Cathedral, which it remains. Celebrated old members include 13 British Prime Ministers (see list below), 9 Viceroys of India, John Locke, William Penn, John Wesley, Lewis Carroll and W H Auden.
The Great Hall, built by Wolsey, and the venue for Festival breakfasts, Dinners, Talks and Tastings, is the largest Tudor College Hall in either Oxford or Cambridge.
During the English Civil War, Oxford was The Royalist Capital – with the King and his Court based at Christ Church from 1642-1646. King Charles I addressed both Houses of the Royalist Parliament in the Great Hall – which was the focus for all Court pomp and ceremony.
Christ Church was the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and more recently the Hall was the setting for the Hogwart’s Hall in J K Rowling’s Harry Potter films; while Tom Quad dominated by Sir Christopher Wren’s huge tower was depicted in the film of Philip Pullman’s ‘The Golden Compass’.
From marquees on Christ Church Meadows and the Master’s Garden, through a succession of historic rooms, the famous Picture Gallery and the new auditorium in Blue Boar Yard, the College provides a splendid range of facilities and venues for the Festival.
Christ Church today is one of the foremost Colleges in The University of Oxford—with undergraduate and postgraduate students from home and overseas -reading a great variety and range of academic subjects. It has a major contingent of research fellows and leading scholars.
The Cathedral (and College Chapel) serves the Diocese of Oxford, as well as the students and during The Festival offers Choral Evensong services and special events. The world famous Christ Church Cathedral Choir reflects a tradition established by Cardinal Wolsey.
CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE
For the first time the site of The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival will include Corpus Christi College, which adjoins Christ Church. Founded in 1517 the College has a series of small and handsome quads, an ancient Library and elegant gardens.
Many significant figures have been associated with the College, the educational reformer Thomas Arnold, the art historian John Ruskin, the philospher Isaiah Berlin, and the novelist Vikram Seth.
Corpus Christi will be the base for the third Fiction Creative Writing Course – and its historic Dining Hall will be the venue for the Festival Opening Dinner (Speaker Michael Cockerell). Events throughout the week will be staged in the architecturally acclaimed new MBJ Al Jaber Building.
THE SHELDONIAN THEATRE PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
This year The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival introduces a programme of world-class speakers at The Sheldonian Theatre. Built in the 1660s to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren, The Sheldonian is the official venue for the University of Oxford’s principal meetings, degree and other ceremonies. Described by the European Commission as an ‘architectual jewel’ The Sheldonian has one of the finest 18th Century interiors in Britian. Seating 1000, the Theatre provides an appropriate setting for some of the Festival’s most prestigious events.
http://www.oxfordliteraryfestival.com/
