Brookes at the Oxford Literary Festival

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Oxford Brookes University will once again make an important contribution to the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival which is taking place from 2-10 April 2016.

Academics from the University’s Department of English and Modern Languages will take part in the lively and varied programme of literary events alongside an array of award-winning and internationally renowned authors and poets.

Events involving Oxford Brookes include:

Helen Mort and Alan Buckley, Chaired by Andrea Macrae - The Body Beautiful (Sunday 3 April 2016 2pm, Worcester College: Linbury Building)

Poets Helen Mort and Alan Buckley explore our bodies and how we live through them. With poems about the prejudices faced by female rock climbers, the male gaze, our complex relationship with physical beauty, and the mystery of fire-eating; this event aims to give the body its own true voice.

Claire Trevien, Harry Man and Sarah Hesketh - A poetry reading (Tuesday 5 April 2016
4pm, Worcester College: Linbury Building)

Three of the most exciting and original voices working on the British poetry scene today come together to read some of their verse.

Frank Delaney talks to Alex Goody - Re:Joyce (Tuesday 5 April 2016 6pm, Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room)

Novelist, journalist and broadcaster Frank Delaney talks about his fellow countryman, the great Irish novelist, James Joyce.

Bryan Brown - John Henry Brookes: The Man Who Inspired a University (Wednesday 6 April 2016 3pm, Taylor Institution: Meeting Room 2)

Writer Bryan Brown looks at the life of John Henry Brookes, one of the 20th-century’s most influential educational leaders and a driving force behind education in Oxford. Brown looks at the early life of Brookes, the influential thinkers that shaped his views, his arts and crafts career and his struggles to create the Headington Campus that has evolved into the University named in his honour.

Marian Keyes talks to Frank Delaney -  An Interview with Marian Keyes (Sunday 10 April 2016 4pm, Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room)

Bestselling Irish novelist Marian Keyes talks to novelist, journalist and arts broadcaster Frank Delaney about her life and career as one of Britain’s best-loved comic novelists and about her new book of hilarious and heartfelt observations on modern life.

Ruth Dudley Edwards, Frank Delaney and Dan Mulhall - The 1916 Easter Rising (Thursday 7 April 2016 10am, Weston Lecture Theatre)

Award-winning writer Ruth Dudley Edwards, author and broadcaster Frank Delaney and the Ambassador of Ireland in London Dan Mulhall look back at the Easter Rising of 1916 in Ireland and offer contrasting views on how far it helped to shape modern Ireland.

Panel discussion – ‘Matters of Taste’, with Madhur Jaffrey, Professor Jessica Harris, Jeremy Lee and Donald Sloan (Thursday 7 April 2016 4pm, Weston Lecture Theatre)

Three renowned food experts, writers Madhur Jaffrey and Professor Jessica Harris and Quo Vadis head chef Jeremy Lee, discuss their personal food journeys with head of Oxford Gastronomica Don Sloan.

Dinner to celebrate the 80^th birthday of food writer Claudia Roden, prepared by Spanish chef José Pizarro (Thursday 7 April 7pm, Brookes Restaurant – 65 guests)

Join one of the world’s best-known food writers Claudia Roden for her 80th birthday party and enjoy a meal prepared by the acclaimed Spanish chef Josè Pizarro. The evening will include a canapés and drinks reception and a three-course meal. Dress code: business suits/evening wear.

Dinner, with menu prepared by food writer Claudia Roden, to celebrate Helena Attlee’s new book ‘The Land Where Lemons Grow’ (Friday 8 April 8pm, Worcester College Hall – 120 guests)

Celebrated food writer Claudia Roden creates a citrus-themed menu based on Helena Attlee’s book, The Land Where Lemons Grow: The Story of Italy and its Citrus Fruit. The price includes a drinks reception in the 18th-century Provost’s Lodgings and a three-course meal with wines and coffee. Dress: business suits.

Panel discussion – ‘Eating your way to health and well-being’ – Calgary Avansino, Madelaine Shaw and Nick Barnard (Saturday 9 April 2016 12pm, Bodleian: Divinity School)

Three advocates of healthy eating, journalist and Vogue contributing editor Calgary Avansino, nutritional health coach Madeleine Shaw, and co-founder of Rude Health Nick Barnard discuss their different approaches to diet and how we can have a healthy relationship with ourselves and our food.

Interview – ‘A musical menu – memories of a lifetime in food’ – Claudia Roden with Donald Sloan (Saturday 9 April 2016 4pm, Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room)

World-renowned cookery writer Claudia Roden talks to Don Sloan about her life and career in food. Roden will select six pieces of music that inspire her memories and that will be played at the event.

Interview – ‘Honey & Co. - The Baking Book and Food from the Middle East’ – Itamar Srulovick and Sarit Packer. (Sunday 10 April 2016 12pm, Worcester College: Linbury Building)

Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer discuss their cooking style, their highly acclaimed food books and their restaurant Honey & Co – one of the most talked about eating places in London.

Dinner prepared by chef Ken Hom OBE, as the closing event of the festival (Sunday 10 April 8.30pm, Worcester College Hall– 120 guests)

Chinese food writer Ken Hom prepares a Chinese menu to mark the end of this year’s festival and celebrate 20 years of Oxford Literary festival. The price includes a drinks reception in the 18th-century Provost’s Lodgings, three-course meal, wines and coffee. Dress code: business suits.

Further information on the Oxford Literary Festival can be found on its dedicated website.