BOOK lovers will flock to the city today for a sneak peek at what the Oxford Literary Festival has in store for its 19th year.


Award-winning authors, politicians, historians and journalists from across the world will appear at the festival between Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 29.


Booker Prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro will launch the festival during a special preview event at Oxford Town Hall tonight.


He will talk to Financial Times books editor Lorien Kite about his new novel, The Buried Giant.


Festival special adviser Tony Byrne said: “This is Ishiguro’s first novel in 10 years, so this is a big event.”
More than 250 events are lined up for the nine-day festival, with 500 speakers from 20 different countries coming together.


Events will take place at Christ Church, the Sheldonian Theatre, Bodleian Library and Corpus Christi College.


Other speakers include Nobel Prize-winning scientist Professor Eric Kandel, Indian writer Amitav Ghosh, cookery writer Madhur Jaffrey, broadcaster and author Melvyn Bragg, actress Celia Imrie, wildlife presenter Bill Oddie and historian Simon Schama.


The festival will also celebrate the nation’s favourite children’s books, including a special event with Oxford author Philip Pullman.


It will mark the 20th anniversary of the publication of Northern Lights, which is the first book in Mr Pullman’s fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials.


The Oxford Times is again an official partner, and the paper is offering eight sets of tickets to readers.
Two pairs of tickets are available for each of the events hosted by American author Diana Gabaldon on March 22, actress Celia Imrie on March 24, and singer Jessye Norman on March 27.


Two sets of family tickets are also on offer for the event by Tom Gates author Liz Pichon on March 22.
For a chance to win, state which events you would like to attend, and tell us which Philip Pullman book was voted third most popularwork of fiction of all time.


Send your answers to Oxford Literary Festival Competition, Features Desk, Newspaper House, Osney Mead, OX2 0EJ, or email katharine.macalister@oxfordtimes.co.uk


Answers must reach us by noon on Wednesday, March 18. The usual rules apply and the editor’s decision is final. For more information, see the festival website oxfordliteraryfestival.org