Show notes
After he’d written Smallcreep’s Day, Peter Currell Brown never wrote another book.He disappeared from the world of literature completely and started making strange ceramic pots in the woods.I mean, we’ve all done it, right?Okay. Maybe not. And I guess to some extent, that’s what makes the book up for discussion in this latest episode of the show so interesting.Indeed, this strange and singular book was a huge influence on my very special guest—another Something Something Brown, the author of the excellent Ironopolis and Mother Naked, the wonderful Glen James Brown.We revisit Glen’s first experience of the book and discuss how he feels about it today.Plus, we of course discuss what it’s like to live your life with only one N in your name.Welcome to The Library of Lazy Thinking Podcast, with me, your host, the N-rich, Glenn Fisher.As you may well know by now, in each episode, I'm joined by a guest from the world of books and culture to talk about a specific book they'd like to put in the library.There's no plan and no agenda, just two people lazily thinking about literature.If you enjoy the show and would like to help us (and get your hands on a coveted Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge), you can become a supporter of the library by upgrading your subscription.But either way, please do like and share the show—it all helps.In this episode, as I say, my very special guest is the author Glen James Brown. We discuss his pick for the library, the 1965 novel Smallcreep’s Day by Peter Currell Brown.About GlenGlen James Brown is a British author acclaimed for his portrayals of working-class life in northern England. Born in 1982 in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, he studied English at Leeds Beckett University. He earned an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester, where he received the Kate Betts Memorial Prize. His debut novel, Ironopolis (2018), was shortlisted for both the 2019 Orwell Prize and the 2020 Portico Prize. Brown's second novel, Mother Naked (2024), was inspired by a 15th-century Durham Cathedral record of a minstrel named Modyr Nakett. Currently residing in Manchester, Brown also works as a part-time university writing tutor.About PeterPeter Currell Brown, born in 1936 in Colchester, Essex, is a British author best known for his singular novel, Smallcreep's Day, published in 1965. Leaving Colchester Royal Grammar School at the age of fifteen, Brown entered the workforce, taking a factory job that would later inspire his only novel. Smallcreep's Day is a surreal satire on modern industrial life, following the character Pinquean Smallcreep as he navigates the labyrinthine corridors of a vast factory in search of meaning. The novel gained a cult following and was reissued in 2008 by Pinter & Martin. After marrying in 1962 and starting a family, Brown moved to rural Gloucestershire, where he worked various jobs, before focusing on craft pottery.Links to obscure (and not so obscure) things mentioned in this episode* Order Smallcreep’s Day by Peter Currell Brown and Glen’s most recent novel, Mother Naked, from my local independent bookshop in Sheffield here.* Read six interesting facts about Peter Currell Brown from his daughter here.* Listen to the album Smallcreep’s Day by Mike Rutherford here.* Find the artist Glenn Brown here.* Find Glen James Brown on Instagram here.* Find Glenn Fisher on Instagram here.* Find The Library of Lazy Thinking on Instagram here.About the LibraryThe Library of Lazy Thinking is a place to hang out and learn more about books. If you’d like to support the library and get access to everything here, you can become a paid member (and get an exclusive The Library of Lazy Thinking bookmark, sticker, and pin badge). All support goes back into the library, helping to organize live events, exclusive merchandise, and more podcasts.About GlennGlenn Fisher is a writer—wait, Glenn Fisher is me. I’m the one writing this. Let’s drop the third-person act. My writing has been published in Lunate, The Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, 3am Magazine, Dogmatika, and Litro Magazine. I write about books and interview other writers and artists here in The Library of Lazy Thinking. I live in Sheffield and work as a freelance copywriter. I have had a best-selling non-fiction book published on the subject called The Art of the Click. It was published by Harriman House and shortlisted for Business Book of the Year. It has been translated into Simplified Chinese and Korean. I also have a dog called Pablo. He is harder to translate. Indeed, most of my life revolves around trying to understand his often unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, I am currently working on my first novel about a man who accidentally kidnaps a pig. Brave/insane agents: hit me up. Get full access to The Library of Lazy Thinking at lazythinking.substack.com/subscribe