RENOWNED speakers have been added to the line-up for this year’s Oxford Literary Festival.
Roger Penrose, one of the world’s leading theoretical scientists, is to open the festival, with a talk on his latest book in which he says fashion, faith and fantasy may be leading some researchers astray on the extreme frontiers of physics.
Other major figures to join this year’s event, which runs from Saturday, March 25 to Sunday, April 2, include the former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, on the rise of Donald Trump, and the current Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who will discuss the Catholic community with former Labour deputy leader Roy Hattersley.
Novelist Penelope Lively will talk about her life and career and receive the festival honorary fellowship.
A statement on the festival’s website said: “Tickets are already selling fast for the festival, which will include appearances by novelists Vikram Seth, Alexander McCall Smith, Paul Auster and William Boyd; poet Simon Armitage; Nobel-winning scientist Paul Nurse; actors Toby Jones and Simon Callow; Olympic Gold medal-winning athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, food-writer and broadcaster Nigella Lawson; the UK’s most celebrated political interviewer Jeremy Paxman; Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman; and BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour presenter Jenni Murray.”
Leading expert on celebrity branding Jeetendr Sehdev, will give a talk explaining what reality television personality Kim Kardashian and the election of Donald Trump have in common.
For further information visit the festival website oxfordliteraryfestival.org
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