I've just received a booklet covering this year's Oxford Literary Festival to be held between 24-29 March (is it really a year since the last one?).
The Sunday Times is sponsoring it again but the big change is that this year it is taking place almost entirely within Christ Church college (the grandest, if not the richest or best college). This is an odd change, and one I hadn't heard about.
Usually, events are split up between the Oxford Union – a famous and historic debating chamber – the Oxford Town Hall – which gives a useful “town” element to the otherwise “gown” event, and other events dotted about.
But Christ Church seems to have won the franchise this year. And I suspect we are talking about a franchise here. A lot of the events are sponsored in the similar way in which TV programmes are sponsored by completely disconnected companies. And Christ Church is putting itself up as a main accomodation spot for festival goers as well.
The other strange thing is that a lot of the events are happening in the “Newman Rooms” – which I have never heard of. Even now, having seen where they are on a map (just opposite Christ Church), and having walked past the road at least a few hundred times, I still have no idea what they refer to. I hope this doesn't mean they've been forced to use a shoddy venue, especially since alot of the events I want to go to are in there.
On a first go through I have found 11 events I'd like to go to (numbers: 5, 8, 60, 30, 40, 36, 57, 72, 96, 107, 115). Based on last year's experiences, I reckon I'll go to five or six.
You can find the festival's website at http://www.sundaytimes-oxfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/.
