Sheffield alumnus and internationally acclaimed crime writer Lee Child returned to the University last week to speak with current students from English and Law. The event offered a rare opportunity to hear directly from the creator of Jack Reacher about his craft, inspirations, and the experiences that shaped his celebrated career.
Reading from his latest book, Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories, a collection of autobiographical essays exploring the origins of the Reacher novels, Child reflected on the personal moments, professional challenges and creative decisions that underpin his writing. He went on to share insights into his writing process and his favourite books -- William Styron's Sophie's Choice and Daniel Mendelsohn's The Lost, classic works of Holocaust Literature. He reflected that the enduring appeal of the novels lies in the satisfaction of justice being served to people who have harmed others, something he noted often contrasts with the real world.
Child then spoke warmly about his time as a Law student at Sheffield, recalling the enjoyment he found in the city’s colourful student life, including his involvement in backstage work for university theatre productions.
In a conversation led by School of English students, he also recounted enlightening anecdotes, including his experiences as a presentation director at Granada Television, where he was eventually laid off after negotiating improved working conditions for nightshift staff as a trade union shop steward. He shared the story of how a piece of fan mail from a member of the band Naked Blue led to a lasting friendship and eventually to them recording an album together. These reflections offered students a vivid sense of how varied experiences can shape a creative career and inform a writer’s voice.
Child also spoke about the Reacher Scholarships, the programme he personally funds to support Sheffield students. Established in 2009, these scholarships help talented students from less advantaged backgrounds to pursue their studies at Sheffield.