Oxford Reads for Rushdie

Oxford Reads for Rushdie is a public event held by the Bodleian Libraries in support of the novelist Salman Rushdie.

It will feature prominent figures from the literary world, alongside students from the University of Oxford, reading from Rushdie's works. 

Held in solidarity with Salman Rushdie, who survived an assassination attempt in August 2022, and in partnership with English PEN, it follows an event at the New York Public Library organised with PEN America, held immediately after Rushdie was attacked, and an evening of solidarity organised by English PEN and others at the British Library in October.

The one-hour event will be hosted by Richard Ovenden OBE, Bodley’s Librarian at Oxford University. Readers will include literary giants such as Zadie Smith, Ian McEwan, Lisa Appignanesi, and Phillip Pullman, and co-hosts Professors Dame Marina Warner and Dame Hermione Lee, as well as Oxford University students.

Oxford Reads for Rushdie is the brain-child of Richard Ovenden, Professor Dame Hermione Lee, Emeritus Professor of English Literature at Oxford University, and Professor Dame Marina Warner, Distinguished Fellow of All Souls College at Oxford University and Professor of English and Creative Writing at Birkbeck College London. In hosting the event, the trio wanted to publicly mark both the Bodleian's and the University’s longstanding commitment to protecting academic freedom of expression. 

The event will not be ticketed. Those who are interested are invited to drop-in and attend on the day. 

*Please note, entry will be on a first come, first serve basis. Once capacity is reached people will be politely asked not to enter.