Peter Currell Brown
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
| Revision as of 14:56, 24 January 2013 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) ← Previous diff |
Current revision Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| - | '''''Smallcreep's Day''''' is [[Peter Currell Brown]]'s only novel and was first published by [[Victor Gollancz Ltd]] in 1965. The story is a surreal satire on modern industrial life. | ||
| - | The central character Pinquean Smallcreep works in the slotting section of a vast and labyrinthine factory and has done so for years. He becomes curious about the purpose of the pulley that he puts the slots in and one day, having become obsessed by an idea, leaves his machine and goes exploring through the strange world of his factory. On a quest to find meaning in his monotonous existence, Smallcreep experiences many surreal and disturbing situations. Each scene explores some of the author’s ideas about human relationships, freedom and the value of human life. Some of the scenes are hilarious, some depressing and some macabre. The final two pages are taken up with a powerful vision of the futility of factory work and a passionate cry for the lost dignity of the craftsman. | + | '''Peter Currell Brown''' is the author of the [[cult classic]] 1965 [[surrealist]] novel, ''[[Smallcreep's Day]]''. |
| - | The book went out of print in the 1970s, but was re-issued by Pinter & Martin in September 2008. In the February 2009 issue of ''[[The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction]]'', science fiction writer and critic [[Lawrence Person]] calls it "a bitter, didactic, bracing novel." | + | He was born in [[Colchester]], Essex, and went to [[Colchester Royal Grammar School]], which he left at fifteen. His first job working in a factory was the stimulus for ''Smallcreep's Day''. |
| - | + | In 1960, Peter was one of a small group who sat down and blocked the entrance of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Foulness. He was sentenced to six months in jail when he refused to agree not to repeat the action. In the following year he was one of the "Eskimo Navy" which boarded Polaris submarines in kayaks, resisting the establishment of the base at Holy Loch. He was a member of the Committee of 100 founded by Bertrand Russell to organise mass nonviolent resistance to nuclear war. | |
| - | ''Smallcreep's Day'' was the inspiration for the [[Smallcreep's Day (album)|album of the same name]] by [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] bassist [[Mike Rutherford]], released in 1980. | + | He married in 1962, and his first child was born later that year. The following year he moved to a small cottage in rural [[Gloucestershire]], where he raised his 4 children. He worked at various jobs locally, including [[Dursley]]'s main factory, [[R A Lister and Company|Lister's]] and [[WWT Slimbridge|Peter Scott’s Wildfowl Trust]] in [[Slimbridge]]. In 1966 he set up a craft pottery he called The Snake Pottery. He later gave up employed work to concentrate on the pottery. In 1987 he separated from his wife and moved out of the cottage. |
| + | In 1980 [[Mike Rutherford]] released an [[Smallcreep's Day (album)|album]] named after and inspired by ''Smallcreep's Day''. | ||
| + | ''Smallcreep's Day'' was republished in September 2008 by [[Pinter & Martin]]. | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Current revision
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Peter Currell Brown is the author of the cult classic 1965 surrealist novel, Smallcreep's Day.
He was born in Colchester, Essex, and went to Colchester Royal Grammar School, which he left at fifteen. His first job working in a factory was the stimulus for Smallcreep's Day. In 1960, Peter was one of a small group who sat down and blocked the entrance of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Foulness. He was sentenced to six months in jail when he refused to agree not to repeat the action. In the following year he was one of the "Eskimo Navy" which boarded Polaris submarines in kayaks, resisting the establishment of the base at Holy Loch. He was a member of the Committee of 100 founded by Bertrand Russell to organise mass nonviolent resistance to nuclear war. He married in 1962, and his first child was born later that year. The following year he moved to a small cottage in rural Gloucestershire, where he raised his 4 children. He worked at various jobs locally, including Dursley's main factory, Lister's and Peter Scott’s Wildfowl Trust in Slimbridge. In 1966 he set up a craft pottery he called The Snake Pottery. He later gave up employed work to concentrate on the pottery. In 1987 he separated from his wife and moved out of the cottage.
In 1980 Mike Rutherford released an album named after and inspired by Smallcreep's Day.
Smallcreep's Day was republished in September 2008 by Pinter & Martin.
