Never before has a thriller writer had a biography written by a literary academic. But Lee Child is a global phenomenon who defies easy categorisation and Australian scholar Heather Martin is not only a fan, but convinced that he has real heft, earning him a spot among some serious heavy hitters.

In this episode, she maps the trajectory of how Lee Child created his hero Jack Reacher in his own image to a seamless degree. She sleuths Child’s unpromising loveless childhood, his lifelong addictions, his desire for revenge of past wrongs, and his shrewd, strategic approach to every aspect of becoming a bestseller.

Produced by David Roach for Two Heads media and Jennifer Macey.

Music composed and performed by Amanda Brown and produced by Lilly Pilli. 

This podcast is made on Dharrawal country.

 

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