How the 2011 England riots inspired Sarah Butler’s latest novel, Before The Fire

Rioting occurs frequently throughout history yet few authors tackle the subject in fiction. Academic tomes exist in abundance but novels are rare. British author Sarah Butler addresses this gap in her latest work, Before the Fire.

On 4 August 2011 police shot Mark Duggan in Tottenham. A peaceful demonstration on 6 August turned into a street riot and disturbances spread across England. The unrest reached Manchester on 9 August. This serves as the setting for Butler’s novel. She discussed the riots, her book and the importance of refusing stereotypes.

Media treatment of young people

What was it about the media treatment of the young people involved that particularly outraged you?

One headline from the Daily Mail claimed years of liberal dogma spawned a generation of amoral, uneducated, welfare dependent, brutalised youngsters. That article was inflammatory. It suggested the young people involved were essentially wild beasts and implied they should have been shot.

Measured responses existed but fear and stereotyping dominated the conversation. There was an assumption that young people were solely to blame. Subsequent analysis showed a broad range of ages participated. The violence and looting were not acceptable but they did not warrant blanket criticism of an entire generation.

Years of arts-related work with young people shows they are often disaffected or troublesome but also brilliant and creative. Each has a complicated inner life. Writing off young people because of their age, race or economic circumstances is a mistake.

“The whole country has been shocked by the most appalling scenes of people looting, violence, vandalising and thieving. It is criminality, pure and simple and there is absolutely no excuse for it.” David Cameron, Parliament, 11 August 2011

The protagonist and stereotypes

Could you describe the protagonist in a little more detail? How does he contradict the stereotype portrayal of the rioters?

Before The Fire follows Stick, a 17 year old boy involved in the riots. He turns 18 in the summer of 2011. He is hedonistic but thoughtful. The novel focuses on the loss of his best friend and the earlier death of his sister. He struggles with grief and frustration at his inability to change his circumstances. He is a conflicted individual rather than an unthinking beast.

Combining fiction with real events

As a writer, what do you find most challenging and interesting about combining a real life setting with fictional characters?

Writing contemporary novels in identifiable places carries the risk of misrepresenting an area. However, any event is composed of layers of memory and experience. It is different for everyone. This is not an attempt to represent the definitive Manchester or the riots. It is a story about one fictional young man in a specific context. The riots have faded from the national consciousness like a wild blip. The book brings them back into focus.

“While bankers have publicly looted the country’s wealth and got away with it, it’s not hard to see why those who are locked out of the gravy train might think they were entitled to help themselves to a mobile phone.” Seumas Milne, Guardian Newspaper, 10 August 2011