The great University and the city of Oxford have always welcomed thinkers and writers from across the globe, and this year's international 2013 Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival celebrates this tradition more than ever before We have writers and panellists from over 20 countries; some two dozen speakers from the USA for our new annual programme on American literature and culture; ten speakers on Indian literature and culture; several events in our Africa programme and previews of next year's focus on German literature and culture We will no longer have marquees in the meadow or in the gardens as we can now accommodate all speakers in college or university buildings Joining them are some of the greatest writers in English of our age, including Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney and Booker prize winners Hilary Mantel, Julian Barnes and Ben Okri