How important is fidelity to the facts when in fact, you’re writing fiction? Join Glen James Brown as he ponders this eternal question. While writing Ironopolis, his novel set deep in a tight-knit community, Glen’s research was filled by remarkable, authentic tales of living in social housing and dancing to acid house. These stories were vital to the authenticity of his novel but oddly, often contradicted the story he was telling. What to do? As he’ll explain, the tug-of-war led him to embrace contradictions and make conflict work for his writing.

Glen James Brown was born in County Durham in 1982 and studied English at Leeds Beckett University before graduating with distinction from an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Chichester. Ironopolis is his first novel; it was shortlisted for the 2020 Portico Prize as well as the 2019 Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. He lives in Manchester and is currently working on his second novel.

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In-person tickets start from £11. Dinner and book bundles are also available.

Online tickets are £8 per person

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As part of a new access initiative here at the Library, all our non-residential events will have one free place available. Please email Rhian.waller@gladlib.org for details.