School Visits

I am happy to do talks and workshops everywhere, though the South of England is easier.

My normal workshop involves getting the young people to fill in a section of the back story from Kummersdorf. I supply them with a selection of documentary material to read beforehand, and would introduce the workshop with a brief talk (with Powerpoint slides if facilities are available) about how I came to write the book. Then I invite them to work out outcomes for an episode which I didn't put into the book, but which was certainly in my thoughts while I was writing it, in which Effi, her aunt Annelie and Pierre are approached by a local man for help because he's been hiding a Jew but needs a new hiding-place as the neighbours are getting suspicious. In this situation, neither party is quite sure if they can trust the other not to betray them to the Gestapo.

In doing this, they gain an insight into the way an author inhabits a novel and knows things about their characters that don't get onto the page, but nevertheless inform the story. They also get some knowledge of Nazi Germany that they might not otherwise acquire.

I can also talk about the way in which I have integrated general and family history into Last Train from Kummersdorf.

Recent school visits include Sydenham High School for Girls, GDST, St Joseph's Convent School, Reading, Elstree School, Berkshire, and a workshop for pupils of Theale Green School.

'It taught me about a side of World War 2 that I had never heard about, very interesting.' Hugo Dale-Harris, Year 8

'Extravagantic and very interesting, thoroughly enjoyable.' James Porter, Year 8

'Leslie presented the facts of her family history in a fascinating and truthful way. She introduced her writing, setting the scene for a very atmospheric workshop. Her story of Effi and Hanno in Germany during World War 2 provoked a lot of thought as we learned to consider the wartime experiences of ordinary children and adults in Germany.' Carol Botterill, librarian, Elstree School.

I charge Society of Authors rates, £220 for a half day and £300 for a whole day. Half a day's visit involves no more than 2 one and a half hour sessions and possibly a brief talk.

email: corneliuswilson@btinternet.com