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Jack Reacher author Lee Child

Lee Child’s first thriller featuring Jack Reacher was published 21 years ago. Fans speculate endlessly about what drives that character but what drives Lee Child?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the author Lee Child. Storytelling is one of the most basic human impulses. But few are the storytellers who can draw in millions of readers all over the world, fewer still those who can do it repeatedly. Lee Child’s first thriller featuring former military policeman Jack Reacher was published 21 years ago. His latest is his twenty third and his book sales have topped a hundred million. Fans speculate endlessly about what drives Jack Reacher, but what drives Lee Child?

Image: Lee Child (Credit: WireImage/Getty Images)

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23 minutes

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Mon 4 Mar 201921:06GMT
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    BBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean & South Asia only
  • Mon 4 Mar 201907:06GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & East Asia only
  • Mon 4 Mar 201914:06GMT
    BBC World Service Australasia
  • Mon 4 Mar 201915:06GMT
    BBC World Service except Australasia, East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Mon 4 Mar 201918:06GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa, South Asia & West and Central Africa only
  • Mon 4 Mar 201920:06GMT
    BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview, News Internet, Online & Europe and the Middle East only
  • Mon 4 Mar 201921:06GMT
    BBC World Service Australasia & East Asia only

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