Thank you for being part of The PIE's community! 

We’d love to hear your opinion on the following PIE Services 

1. The PIE Events
2. The PIE Webinars
3. The PIE News content

Your feedback will assist us in enhancing our products and services. We are keen to understand the main priorities and challenges that you face in 2023, within the international education sector.

The survey will take no more than 10 minutes to complete. We are eager to hear your feedback. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Don't miss your opportunity to take part! 

All participants will be entered into a prize draw to win a FREE ticket to a 2023 PIE event of their choice, plus a £100 Amazon gift card.  For your chance to win, all you need to do is complete the survey. 

Please fill out our survey

Hi Hania,

Any reference you could make to my novel would be great. I'm attaching an image of the cover, if that helps. Here's the link to the Amazon page - https://tinyurl.com/nh8e3j77

And here are the reviews. The first one, which is by ELT author Philip Prowse.

The Duke’s Portrait - Reviews on Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars

A magical world. Reviewed on 22 August 2022 by Philip Prowse

A breath-taking journey through a fondly remembered Wodehousian landscape dominated by a stately pile and populated by characters whose identities are usually false and motives always dubious. Young men on the make, elderly rakes, bumbling bobbies, amorous matrons and gung-ho girls, fake artists and artworks, shotguns in the dark, limousines in ditches, grand embezzlement and surprise bequests portrayed in a land of steam trains, telephone exchanges, multi-faceted butlers and eccentric bankers. Wilson channels Plum’s muse well including a brief resurrection of Anatole the chef and a solitary appeal to ‘Dear Reader’ for forbearance. None needed.

4.0 out of 5 stars

A feast of mischief. Reviewed in the United Kingdom  on 22 January 2022

The Duke’s Portrait is jam-packed with raucous and unruly characters engaged in multiple subterfuges resulting in a plethora of entertaining subplots. Set in 1937 and switching between locations in London, Gloucestershire and Norfolk, it traces a series of merging tales of deceit, swindle and incompetence which all come together through the unwitting actions and dithering inactions of the Duke of Burfaughtonleigh (pronounced Burley, of course). The novel starts with a list of Dramatis Personae which might seem a little odd until the reader realises that this novel is actually a farce in the Whitehall theatre tradition. It is as if Bertie Wooster has met a slightly potty mouthed Brian Rix, with all the improbable mix ups, scrapes and bungles that that implies – with the addition of some swearing and sex. Above all, it’s story about a riotous bunch of malcontents, often pretending to be who they aren’t and all unknowingly on a collision course as they try to hoodwink each other. It's a veritable feast of mischief.

5.0 out of 5 stars

A Classic Farce. Reviewed on 16 November 2022

A few nights ago I chortled my way contentedly through the first sixty pages of The Duke's Portrait before turning off the light. I have since finished the novel at a gallop. This novel set convincingly in the 1930s is an affectionate nod to Waugh and Wodehouse, a classic farce with dozens of hilarious , interweaving plots the central one of which revolves round the planned theft of a Van Gogh portrait. The number and range of characters are of Proustian dimensions; bossy bank managers, pencil-sucking policemen, elegant butlers, cheeky chauffeurs, seductive wealthy ladies are a tiny sample of the characters presented to the reader. Wilson must have relished the task of naming his characters. "Montmorency Pickles" for the butler is just one. The plot rattles along from page one like the book's ever-speeding Alfa Romeo and Bentley. Timid and much put-upon men in the Bertie Wooster/Guy Crouchbank style navigate their way round "alarming" women. Both villains and heroes swerve niftily round every impasse Wilson sets in their path. Will it all work out? A real treat awaits Wilson's readers as they turn the pages to find out.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Engaging, fun & fast paced. Reviewed on 22 January 2023

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and all its engaging interwoven storylines and fabulously colourful characters . It is fast paced and playful which is refreshing as well as entertaining. Ken Wilson is a classic storyteller, creating a wonderful stage for the twists and turns to play out. I particularly loved his descriptions of this period and 1930's London life. I also appreciated the list of characters to set the scene and the manner in which he followed each story line and character through to the end . No annoying ' I wonder what happened to .... '

5.0 out of 5 stars

Carefree, affectionate and fun! Reviewed on 19 February 2022

A carefree, affectionate story, full of scrapes, frolics and fun and a cast of wonderfully eccentric and colourful characters. Can totally imagine this as a theatrical production too - would love to watch it!

5.0 out of 5 stars

An Absolute Delight to Read! Reviewed on 27 February 2022

This is author Ken Wilson’s first work of fiction. I sure hope it won’t be his last! (He’s a prolific writer of non fiction.) The Duke’s Portrait has a charming and engaging cast of characters. I could definitely see this as a live theater production on stage. It would be a smash hit! I’d also like to listen to an audiobook version of The Duke’s Portrait, having binge read it! I highly recommend for your next great read!

5.0 out of 5 stars

A fast and furious comedy of errors and schemers. Reviewed on 2 December 2022

This is a highly-recommended first novel, a fast-paced comedy with a huge cast of very English characters. Set in the 1930s with lords and country house weekends and Bentleys, it has much of the air of Wodehouse, with an affectionate view of its characters who are often scheming or incompetent – or both. There is a welcome flavour of Dornford Yates too, especially his classic Berry & Co and the tribulations of the country house set (also recommended if you haven’t tried Yates yet). As others have pointed out, it has a huge cast and a serpentine plot, so read it all day as well as late at night. Makes a good Christmas present – just in time!

4.0 out of 5 stars

Tongue-in-cheek but absorbing. Reviewed on 26 February 2022

If you’re looking for an absorbing and fun read, this fits the bill. But you need your brain and memory working as there are lots of characters and lots of backstories, hence the tongue-in-cheek Dramatis Personae at the front of the book. Convincingly set in the 1930s with wacky characters and a highly improbable story line, the author has an engaging way with words so you can’t help being drawn into all the shenanigans. A commendable first 

novel - definitely enjoyable.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Laughs, larks, reflection. Reviewed on 1 July 2022

This is a gem! Very funny, it bounced along and yet maintains energy and ideas and echoes round one’s mind long after putting it down for the final time. While it has the frothy, light joy of an Edmund Crispin or Wodehouse, there is also the real coffee of thought and clear ideas. The historical detail is superb. I really enjoyed it and hope for more.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Highly amusing. Reviewed on 11 September 2022

This is an extremely entertaining novel, totally worth the read. The way the many characters interact in the novel is very interesting and creative. This is a perfect book for the ones who want to read a fun, enjoyable and relaxing story set in England in the 30's. I totally recommend it.

5.0 out of 5 stars

A Joy to Read. Reviewed on February 4, 2023

As an avid reader of PG Wodehouse and fan of Monty Python, I was delighted to discover a modern author willing to carry on the honored tradition of poking fun at British high society with wit and finesse. The Duke's Portrait features a cast of characters so colorful, so endearing, and so entangled, one wonders how it all gets resolved in the end. That's for the reader to discover, but I assure you the journey is nothing less than joyful. Upon finishing the final page, I said farewell to what had become my happy place, and can only wait for the sequel.

PUT ON A SHOW WITH CONCORD’S CURATED SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR STAGE

Exclusive new titles only available for school and youth groups in UK and Ireland.

Whether you're looking for the perfect play or musical to perform or to browse our hundreds of syllabus-related publications, we are your one-stop shop for bringing your students the best that theatre has to offer.

Explore musicals written or adapted specifically for young actors; then, check out plays that allow for ensembles of varying sizes. Plus, head on to our Resources page, which will help enhance your production and take your show to the next level.

Let’s keep making theatre happen!

Keep in touch

Subscribe today to be the first to know about our plays, musicals, recordings, production resources and much more, plus receive 20% off your first retail order across our site.

Hello Hanna

I hope you are having a good week. Today, some thoughts on alcohol and grammar.

 How much do you drink?

If I’m going to be completely honest, I probably drink a bit too much. I don’t drink every day – not quite. And I hardly ever get drunk – I’m not a teenager, after all! But I generally exceed the healthy limit and it can affect my mood and my energy levels. I worry that I might be dependent on alcohol and so every now and again, I’ll take a month off. But I always go back to drinking in the end. I am starting to think that total abstinence might be the answer. But that would be a shame because there’s nothing quite like a cold beer on a summer’s day or a glass of wine with your pizza.

This text came to me through a targeted Facebook advert. It was trying to get me to sign up for a programme called One year no beer. The timing was interesting – not because I drink too much (which I probably do) – but because I had recently read the following line in Scott Thornbury’s How to teach grammar:

“The history of language teaching is essentially the history of the claims and counterclaims for and against the teaching of grammar.” (Page 14)

It got me thinking: is grammar the alcohol of language teaching?
 

 Are we grammarholics?

If grammar is the alcohol of language teaching, what sort of relationship do you have with it? Personally, I feel that in moderation a bit of meaningful grammar teaching can be a wonderful thing. But as a profession, we tend to go too far. Grammar dominates coursebooks, training courses, syllabuses, curriculums and examinations.

Grammar even managed to hijack the communicative approach and this is most notable in our course books. Too often, we are promised meaning-focussed communication. But too often we get speaking tasks and activities that are little more than Trojan horses for grammar practice.

 Grammar goggles

What is it that attracts us to authentic materials? Why do teachers feel the need to put the coursebook to the side and go in search of articles, podcasts and short films?

My guess is that authentic materials offer the most compelling source of input. In other words, authentic materials offer the best stories – an idea that is absolutely central to LessonStream.

But when working with an authentic text, we should first take off our grammar goggles and stop looking for neatly-packaged grammar points when there are none.

Stories texts are for life, not teaching the past simple!

If we don't take off the grammar goggles, we risk missing the richness of language and features which provide a valuable source of input for students.

 Teaching grammar through story

I love a cold beer on a summer’s day. I love a glass of wine with my pizza. And I love incorporating meaningful grammar instruction into my classes and lesson plans.

If we really want to teach grammar, we have to change our relationship with it. We need a more balanced approach in which grammar is important but not the goal; an approach where grammar instruction is given in response to communicative activities; an approach in which the teacher is a grammar guide but not a grammar pusher. 

To quote again from How to teach grammar:

“It may be that communicative competence is best achieved through communicating, through making meanings, and that grammar is a way of tidying these meanings up. If so, the teacher’s energies should be directed mainly at providing opportunities for authentic language use, employing grammar as a resource rather than an end in itself. As Leibniz is supposed to have said: ‘A language is acquired through practice; it is merely perfected through grammar.’” (Page 25)

 The LessonStream Story Course

If the ideas in this post interest you, then you should consider joining the LessonStream Story Course.  Unit seven will show you how to teach language with story. It looks like this:
7.1 Language input
7.2 Language grading
7.3 Language output
7.4 Teaching grammar through story

The unit includes a 17-page PDF handout in which I elaborate on the ideas in this post and suggest 10 ideas for meaningful grammar teaching through story. To get access to the Story Course, all you have to do is sign up for the LessonStream Membership. If you aren't already a member, now would be a great time to join.

Thank you for reading.
Jamie :)

Hi Hania

Yes please. I attach a review from the Morning Star and will send you a Kindle copy.  

My mind is still partly in Greece but increasingly in Poland where the next one is set.

All best as ever

Philip