Dr Luca Trenta of the Department of Political and Cultural Studies will join Dr Rory Cormac, Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Nottingham, as they examine the history of assassination in international politics following a year where the assassinations of a Saudi journalist and a Russian spy have made the headlines.

To mark the 100th birthday of Welsh writer Emyr Humphreys this year, Professor M. Wynn Thomas, holder of the Emyr Humphreys Chair at CREW (Centre for Research into the English Literature and Language of Wales) Swansea University, Professor Daniel G. Williams, Director of the Richard Burton Centre, Swansea University and one of Wales’ best known poets, Menna Elfyn, discuss his life and work. The discussion will be held in Welsh, with English simultaneous translation. 

The winner of this year’s Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize, to be announced on 16 May, will talk to Dai Smith, chair of the judging panel and Emeritus Raymond Williams Research Chair in the Cultural History of Wales at Swansea University. This year’s longlist comprises: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Michael Donkor, Clare Fisher, Zoe Gilbert, Emma Glass, Guy Gunaratne, Louisa Hall, Sarah Perry, Sally Rooney, Richard Scott, Novuyo Rosa Tshuma and Jenny Xie.

Featuring over 600 speakers in events across 11 days, the festival also offers a vibrant schedule of late-night music, comedy and entertainment for all ages alongside HAYDAYS and #HAYYA programmes encouraging younger readers to get creative.

Event details:

The Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize Winner talks to Dai Smith

Saturday 25 May 2019, 5.30pm Venue: Starlight Stage

Emyr Humphreys at 100 – An Unrivalled Writer

Monday 27 May 2019, 2.30pm Venue: Starlight Stage 

License to Kill? Assassination in International Politics – Dr Luca Trenta and Dr Rory Cormac

Thursday 30 May 2019, 2.30pm Venue: Llwyfan Cymru – Wales Stage

Professor John Spurr, Head of the College of Arts and Humanities at Swansea University, said: “The Hay Literary Festival is one of the international cultural highlights of the year. Swansea University is proud to be an Educational Partner of the Hay Festival and we are delighted to bring some of the best of Swansea to Hay each spring.”

Peter Florence, director of Hay Festival, said: “Hay Festival is a space to think, and to think again, and to put the great issues of the day in a context of global history. Empires fall, technology empowers and enslaves us, faiths are shaken, orthodoxies disrupted and still we come together and talk and sing and dance, break bread and tell stories. Minds change. Government is fiendishly hard, democracy is vulnerable, and living together, the ‘Convivencia' is a precious dream. The good news is that our potential is limitless, and friendship is our pleasure. Let’s talk. Let’s listen.”

Booking is open to Friends of Hay Festival online now or on 01497 822 629. Public booking opens Friday 29 March.