Convincing new people of the urgent need to tackle poverty, whilst also encouraging the faithful, has led me to an alternative approach to writing about development.
After some 35 years of writing factual books and newspaper articles on development and poverty issues, I decided to switch to a novel to communicate the story. As a World Development Advisor, I wonder if you might be interested in this?
Beyond Reach? is set in 2005 and is an eyewitness account of the Make Poverty History campaign. The book‟s fact-cum-fiction plot tells of how a feisty young married woman inspires a church minister, known for his inappropriate choice of women, to join the campaign. The result is an explosive mix that takes them into a world that neither bargained for. Their relationship energises them for the campaign, leading them to an exposé of government duplicity, of how the claims made by government about aid, debt relief and trade were far from all they seemed.
While claiming to have heard the pleas of campaigners for trade justice, for example, the government continued to push free trade and the deregulation of business - the very opposite of what Make Poverty History was all about. And government was very slow to recognise the link between climate change and poverty.
The book also asks searching questions about relationships, the nature of love and the meaning of life. The relationship of the book‟s two main characters is set against a background of faithfulness, commitment, weakness and opportunity, and of the minister‟s love of the Bible‟s wisdom passages.
At one level, the book links social justice and theology and is Christian fiction, (which sells well in the United States, but is in its infancy in Britain). It will therefore appeal to Christians involved in development issues and encourage others to become involved.
At another level, it will I hope interest people who would not read an academic book on development, but who may read a novel. From the comments I have received so far, this is happening. A novel can sometimes have insights and reveal truths in a unique way.
My hope is that the book will reach people who have not so far been involved in campaigning on the issues and thus help to step up the demand for policies to end poverty.
I draw on almost 50 years experience of campaigning on development issues to pack the book with campaign ideas. As a journalist, I covered the G8 summit at Gleneagles in 2005, was present at most of the national Make Poverty History events, and also involved in local campaigning.
I am a former Lay member of the General Synod, and the author of nine factual books on development issues, including the best-selling “Hungry for Trade - How the poor pay for free trade”, and “50 Reasons to Buy Fair Trade”.
John Madeley
“Beyond Reach?” is published by Longstone Books, 239 pages, price £9.99. ISBN: 978-0-9554373-7-3.
