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The Oxford Literary Festival » Page 3

The Oxford Literary Festival

Last updated: April 18, 2025

    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults, recommended by Philip Reeve

  • Read
    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien

    1

    The Lord of the Rings
    by J R R Tolkien

  • Read
    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - Watership Down by Richard Adams

    2

    Watership Down
    by Richard Adams

  • Read
    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Stories of Ray Bradbury by Ray Bradbury

    3

    The Stories of Ray Bradbury
    by Ray Bradbury

  • Read
    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Space Machine by Christopher Priest

    4

    The Space Machine
    by Christopher Priest

  • Read
    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - Fires' Astonishment by Geraldine McCaughrean

    5

    Fires' Astonishment
    by Geraldine McCaughrean

  • Award-winning author Philip Reeve talks us through the science fiction and fantasy books that shaped him and his work in profound ways; among indubitable classics are vibrant lesser-known works awaiting discovery.

  • Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien
  • Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - Watership Down by Richard Adams
  • Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Stories of Ray Bradbury by Ray Bradbury
  • Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Space Machine by Christopher Priest
  • Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - Fires' Astonishment by Geraldine McCaughrean

Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults, recommended by Philip Reeve

Award-winning author Philip Reeve talks us through the science fiction and fantasy books that shaped him and his work in profound ways; among indubitable classics are vibrant lesser-known works awaiting discovery.

Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults, recommended by Philip Reeve

    The best books on Depression, recommended by Bryony Gordon

  • Read
    The best books on Depression - Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

    1

    Reasons to Stay Alive
    by Matt Haig

  • Read
    The best books on Depression - Your Voice in My Head by Emma Forrest

    2

    Your Voice in My Head
    by Emma Forrest

  • Read
    The best books on Depression - Heartburn by Nora Ephron

    3

    Heartburn
    by Nora Ephron

  • Read
    The best books on Depression - The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

    4

    The Bell Jar
    by Sylvia Plath

  • Read
    The best books on Depression - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

    5

    The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
    by Carson McCullers

  • Writing about her life in memoirs and a newspaper column allowed the author Bryony Gordon to "join the dots" to see the true face of her own mental illness. Here, she chooses five books to help with depression, books in which she has found solace and a sense of community among those who suffer from depression.

  • The best books on Depression - Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
  • The best books on Depression - Your Voice in My Head by Emma Forrest
  • The best books on Depression - Heartburn by Nora Ephron
  • The best books on Depression - The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
  • The best books on Depression - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

The best books on Depression, recommended by Bryony Gordon

Writing about her life in memoirs and a newspaper column allowed the author Bryony Gordon to “join the dots” to see the true face of her own mental illness. Here, she chooses five books to help with depression, books in which she has found solace and a sense of community among those who suffer from depression.

The best books on Depression, recommended by Bryony Gordon

    The best books on Modern Irish History, recommended by Richard Bourke

  • Read
    The best books on Modern Irish History - A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man by James Joyce

    1

    A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man
    by James Joyce

  • Read
    The best books on Modern Irish History - Modern Ireland: 1600-1972 by Roy Foster

    2

    Modern Ireland: 1600-1972
    by Roy Foster

  • Read
    The best books on Modern Irish History - War and an Irish Town by Eamonn McCann

    3

    War and an Irish Town
    by Eamonn McCann

  • Read
    The best books on Modern Irish History - States of Ireland by Conor Cruise O’Brien

    4

    States of Ireland
    by Conor Cruise O’Brien

  • Read
    The best books on Modern Irish History - Celtic Revivals: Essays in Modern Irish Literature by Seamus Deane

    5

    Celtic Revivals: Essays in Modern Irish Literature
    by Seamus Deane

  • A "powerful and aggravating absence of consensus" came to define the Irish political experience, says the historian Richard Bourke. Here he picks the best books for gaining a range of perspectives on Irish history, singling out James Joyce as offering insight into the divergence of nationalist opinion.

  • The best books on Modern Irish History - A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man by James Joyce
  • The best books on Modern Irish History - Modern Ireland: 1600-1972 by Roy Foster
  • The best books on Modern Irish History - War and an Irish Town by Eamonn McCann
  • The best books on Modern Irish History - States of Ireland by Conor Cruise O’Brien
  • The best books on Modern Irish History - Celtic Revivals: Essays in Modern Irish Literature by Seamus Deane

The best books on Modern Irish History, recommended by Richard Bourke

A “powerful and aggravating absence of consensus” came to define the Irish political experience, says the historian Richard Bourke. Here he picks the best books for gaining a range of perspectives on Irish history, singling out James Joyce as offering insight into the divergence of nationalist opinion.

The best books on Modern Irish History, recommended by Richard Bourke

    The best books on Immigration, recommended by Ian Goldin

  • Read
    The best books on Immigration - Bloody Foreigners by Robert Winder

    1

    Bloody Foreigners
    by Robert Winder

  • Read
    The best books on Immigration - Borderless Economics by Robert Guest

    2

    Borderless Economics
    by Robert Guest

  • Read
    The best books on Immigration - The Age of Migration by Hein de Haas, Mark J. Miller & Stephen Castles

    3

    The Age of Migration
    by Hein de Haas, Mark J. Miller & Stephen Castles

  • Read
    The best books on Immigration - The Age of Mass Migration by Jeffrey G. Williamson & Timothy J. Hatton

    4

    The Age of Mass Migration
    by Jeffrey G. Williamson & Timothy J. Hatton

  • Read
    The best books on Immigration - A Man of Good Hope by Jonny Steinberg

    5

    A Man of Good Hope
    by Jonny Steinberg

  • What are the economic effects of immigration? Economist Ian Goldin, a professor at Oxford University and founding director of the Oxford Martin School, recommends books and explains.

  • The best books on Immigration - Bloody Foreigners by Robert Winder
  • The best books on Immigration - Borderless Economics by Robert Guest
  • The best books on Immigration - The Age of Migration by Hein de Haas, Mark J. Miller & Stephen Castles
  • The best books on Immigration - The Age of Mass Migration by Jeffrey G. Williamson & Timothy J. Hatton
  • The best books on Immigration - A Man of Good Hope by Jonny Steinberg

The best books on Immigration, recommended by Ian Goldin

What are the economic effects of immigration? Economist Ian Goldin, a professor at Oxford University and founding director of the Oxford Martin School, recommends books and explains.

The best books on Immigration, recommended by Ian Goldin

    The best books on Globalisation, recommended by Stephen D King

  • Read
    The best books on Globalisation - Power and Plenty by Ronald Findlay and Kevin H O’Rourke

    1

    Power and Plenty
    by Ronald Findlay and Kevin H O’Rourke

  • Read
    The best books on Globalisation - The Wealth and Poverty of Nations by David S Landes

    2

    The Wealth and Poverty of Nations
    by David S Landes

  • Read
    The best books on Globalisation - The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith

    3

    The Wealth of Nations
    by Adam Smith

  • Read
    The best books on Globalisation - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

    4

    The Grapes of Wrath
    by John Steinbeck

  • Read
    The best books on Globalisation - Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century

    5

    Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century

  • The Chief Economist at HSBC reflects on the hubris of the Western World and reminds us that history provides valuable lessons on financial crises and the constant changing shape of the world economy

  • The best books on Globalisation - Power and Plenty by Ronald Findlay and Kevin H O’Rourke
  • The best books on Globalisation - The Wealth and Poverty of Nations by David S Landes
  • The best books on Globalisation - The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
  • The best books on Globalisation - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
  • The best books on Globalisation - Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century

The best books on Globalisation, recommended by Stephen D King

The Chief Economist at HSBC reflects on the hubris of the Western World and reminds us that history provides valuable lessons on financial crises and the constant changing shape of the world economy

The best books on Globalisation, recommended by Stephen D King

    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World, recommended by Robin Lane Fox

  • Read
    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - The World of Late Antiquity by Peter Brown

    1

    The World of Late Antiquity
    by Peter Brown

  • Read
    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - Pagan and Christian in an Age of Anxiety by E R Dodds

    2

    Pagan and Christian in an Age of Anxiety
    by E R Dodds

  • Read
    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - Augustine of Hippo by Peter Brown

    3

    Augustine of Hippo
    by Peter Brown

  • Read
    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - The Inner Citadel by Pierre Hadot

    4

    The Inner Citadel
    by Pierre Hadot

  • Read
    The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - The Jews In The Greek Age by Elias J Bickerman

    5

    The Jews In The Greek Age
    by Elias J Bickerman

  • Cultural and philosophical changes that occurred in late antiquity are essential to our understanding of the world today, but few us know much about that period. Historian Robin Lane Fox recommends the best books to read to get a good sense of late antiquity.

  • The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - The World of Late Antiquity by Peter Brown
  • The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - Pagan and Christian in an Age of Anxiety by E R Dodds
  • The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - Augustine of Hippo by Peter Brown
  • The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - The Inner Citadel by Pierre Hadot
  • The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World - The Jews In The Greek Age by Elias J Bickerman

The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World, recommended by Robin Lane Fox

Cultural and philosophical changes that occurred in late antiquity are essential to our understanding of the world today, but few us know much about that period. Historian Robin Lane Fox recommends the best books to read to get a good sense of late antiquity.

The best books on Religious and Social History in the Ancient World, recommended by Robin Lane Fox

    The best books on Women in Science, recommended by Athene Donald

  • Read
    The best books on Women in Science - In a Different Voice by Carol Gilligan

    1

    In a Different Voice
    by Carol Gilligan

  • Read
    The best books on Women in Science - Whistling Vivaldi by Claude Steele

    2

    Whistling Vivaldi
    by Claude Steele

  • Read
    The best books on Women in Science - A Voice For Now by Anne Dickson

    3

    A Voice For Now
    by Anne Dickson

  • Read
    The best books on Women in Science - Reflections on Gender and Science by Evelyn Fox Keller

    4

    Reflections on Gender and Science
    by Evelyn Fox Keller

  • Read
    The best books on Women in Science - Dorothy Hodgkin by Georgina Ferry

    5

    Dorothy Hodgkin
    by Georgina Ferry

  • Award-winning British physicist, Athene Donald, tells us how to fight preconceived ideas about gender and suggests reading that could inspire women to pursue careers in science.

  • The best books on Women in Science - In a Different Voice by Carol Gilligan
  • The best books on Women in Science - Whistling Vivaldi by Claude Steele
  • The best books on Women in Science - A Voice For Now by Anne Dickson
  • The best books on Women in Science - Reflections on Gender and Science by Evelyn Fox Keller
  • The best books on Women in Science - Dorothy Hodgkin by Georgina Ferry

The best books on Women in Science, recommended by Athene Donald

Award-winning British physicist, Athene Donald, tells us how to fight preconceived ideas about gender and suggests reading that could inspire women to pursue careers in science.

The best books on Women in Science, recommended by Athene Donald

    The best books on The Origins of Curiosity, recommended by Philip Ball

  • Read
    The best books on The Origins of Curiosity - Wonders and the Order of Nature by Lorraine Daston and Katharine Park

    1

    Wonders and the Order of Nature
    by Lorraine Daston and Katharine Park

  • Read
    The best books on The Origins of Curiosity - Science and the Secrets of Nature by William Eamon

    2

    Science and the Secrets of Nature
    by William Eamon

  • Read
    The best books on The Origins of Curiosity - The History of Magic and Experimental Science by Lynn Thorndike

    3

    The History of Magic and Experimental Science
    by Lynn Thorndike

  • Read
    The best books on The Origins of Curiosity - The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes

    4

    The Age of Wonder
    by Richard Holmes

  • Read
    The best books on The Origins of Curiosity - The Rosicrucian Enlightenment by Frances Yates

    5

    The Rosicrucian Enlightenment
    by Frances Yates

  • Modern science emerged only when it became acceptable to ask any question about anything – and that required erosion of traditional hierarchies, says the science writer

  • The best books on The Origins of Curiosity - Wonders and the Order of Nature by Lorraine Daston and Katharine Park
  • The best books on The Origins of Curiosity - Science and the Secrets of Nature by William Eamon
  • The best books on The Origins of Curiosity - The History of Magic and Experimental Science by Lynn Thorndike
  • The best books on The Origins of Curiosity - The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes
  • The best books on The Origins of Curiosity - The Rosicrucian Enlightenment by Frances Yates

The best books on The Origins of Curiosity, recommended by Philip Ball

Modern science emerged only when it became acceptable to ask any question about anything – and that required erosion of traditional hierarchies, says the science writer

The best books on The Origins of Curiosity, recommended by Philip Ball

    The best books on Fairness and Inequality, recommended by Will Hutton

  • Read
    The best books on Fairness and Inequality - Principles of Social Justice by David Miller

    1

    Principles of Social Justice
    by David Miller

  • Read
    The best books on Fairness and Inequality - The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

    2

    The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger
    by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

  • Read
    The best books on Fairness and Inequality - Inequality Reexamined by Amartya Sen

    3

    Inequality Reexamined
    by Amartya Sen

  • Read
    The best books on Fairness and Inequality - Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten The World Economy by Raghuram G Rajan

    4

    Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten The World Economy
    by Raghuram G Rajan

  • Read
    The best books on Fairness and Inequality - Chavs by Owen Jones

    5

    Chavs
    by Owen Jones

  • What is the difference between fairness and equality? In contemporary capitalist societies, some inequality is inevitable and desirable. But the rewards for the few at the top have soared while the rest have been squeezed. Is this fair? We need a new social contract, says the author and columnist

  • The best books on Fairness and Inequality - Principles of Social Justice by David Miller
  • The best books on Fairness and Inequality - The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett
  • The best books on Fairness and Inequality - Inequality Reexamined by Amartya Sen
  • The best books on Fairness and Inequality - Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten The World Economy by Raghuram G Rajan
  • The best books on Fairness and Inequality - Chavs by Owen Jones

The best books on Fairness and Inequality, recommended by Will Hutton

What is the difference between fairness and equality? In contemporary capitalist societies, some inequality is inevitable and desirable. But the rewards for the few at the top have soared while the rest have been squeezed. Is this fair? We need a new social contract, says the author and columnist

The best books on Fairness and Inequality, recommended by Will Hutton

    The best books on British Prime Ministers, recommended by Anthony Seldon

  • Read
    The best books on British Prime Ministers - Baldwin by Keith Middlemas and John Barnes

    1

    Baldwin
    by Keith Middlemas and John Barnes

  • Read
    The best books on British Prime Ministers - Lloyd George by John Grigg

    2

    Lloyd George
    by John Grigg

  • Read
    The best books on British Prime Ministers - Winston S Churchill by Martin Gilbert

    3

    Winston S Churchill
    by Martin Gilbert

  • Read
    The best books on British Prime Ministers - Supermac by DR Thorpe

    4

    Supermac
    by DR Thorpe

  • Read
    The best books on British Prime Ministers - Margaret Thatcher by John Campbell

    5

    Margaret Thatcher
    by John Campbell

  • It's their frailty that makes politicians such interesting characters, says Tony Blair's biographer Anthony Seldon. He tells us about the art of political biography and the writers who've best captured leaders such as Churchill and Thatcher

  • The best books on British Prime Ministers - Baldwin by Keith Middlemas and John Barnes
  • The best books on British Prime Ministers - Lloyd George by John Grigg
  • The best books on British Prime Ministers - Winston S Churchill by Martin Gilbert
  • The best books on British Prime Ministers - Supermac by DR Thorpe
  • The best books on British Prime Ministers - Margaret Thatcher by John Campbell

The best books on British Prime Ministers, recommended by Anthony Seldon

It’s their frailty that makes politicians such interesting characters, says Tony Blair’s biographer Anthony Seldon. He tells us about the art of political biography and the writers who’ve best captured leaders such as Churchill and Thatcher

The best books on British Prime Ministers, recommended by Anthony Seldon
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