Oxford has long been at the centre of fantasy writing and been home to such authors as William Morris, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Diana Wynne Jones, Susan Cooper, Alan Garner, Philip Pullman, and R.F. Kuang. Bloomsbury Publishing has been championing fantasy genre and have brought to our bookshelves works by J.K. Rowling, Susanna Clarke, Alan Moore, Sarah J. Maas, and many more. The Fantasy Summer School 2025, organised by the University of Oxford and generously supported by Bloomsbury Publishing, continues the tradition and brings together the expertise of scholars, publishers working with fantasy, and authors, including Bloomsbury fantasy author and Oxford alumna Samantha Shannon.
The School is aimed at anyone with an interest in fantasy literature aged 16 or over, who wants a general introduction to the main writers and texts. Over the course of three days of lectures and talks, you will learn more about the past, present and future of the fantasy genre from leading scholars, writers, and publishing team in the field. Please note that although writers may find the sessions of interest, this is not a practical creative writing course.
The Fantasy Summer School 2025 will take place at the state-of-the-art Cohen Quad site, and offer complementary refreshments. The School is free to attend; however, places are limited and accommodation is not provided.
Expressions of interest for in-person attendance are now closed, and candidates will be notified whether they have been offered a place by 17th May. A link to register for online attendance will be posted by the end of May 2025.
If you have any questions, please check the FAQ page or email bloomsburyfantasy@ell.ox.ac.uk.
