‘A thrill and an honour’: Jack Reacher author Lee Child celebrated in Birmingham with free exhibition in Grand Central
A new free exhibition has landed in Birmingham city centre celebrating world-renowned author Lee Child and his legendary creation Jack Reacher.
The exhibition at Grand Central opened on November 4 and is called Lee Child: Creating Reacher. It gives fans an exclusive look inside the mind of one of the world’s best-selling writers who was raised in Birmingham.
Commissioned by Central BID Birmingham and curated by art historian Ruth Millington, the exhibition showcases rare, never-before-seen material from Child’s personal archive and the Lee Child Archive.
Highlights include handwritten drafts, private photographs, book covers and fan mail, all with the author’s direct involvement.
Lee Child photographed for Random House at Ruby Bird studio NY.
Born James Grant, Lee Child rose from local beginnings to global fame with his blockbuster Reacher novels, which inspired Hollywood films starring Tom Cruise and the hit Amazon Prime TV series featuring Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher. A life-size cut out of Ritchson, measuring 6’3, will present a selfie opportunity for Reacher fans.
Child’s 30th novel, Exit Strategy, launched on the same day the exhibition opens, making this a true Birmingham homecoming for the author, who presented and signed books on that day.
“This exhibition comes at a turning point for Lee as he passes the Reacher legacy to his brother Andrew,” said curator Ruth Millington. “It’s a celebration of a Midlands-made hero and the Birmingham boy behind him, inspired by local libraries, theatre, bands like Black Sabbath, football and the city’s outsider spirit. As Brummies, we should shout more loudly about our world-class talent, and this is our chance.”
Jack Reacher book by Lee Chld and Andrew Child
Lee Child has said: “I had a great time growing up in Birmingham, and I still love the place, so it’s genuinely a thrill and an honour that Birmingham remembers me.”
Central BID Birmingham Manager Steve Hewlett added: “Following the success of our Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath exhibitions, this is another brilliant way to honour a local legend. We’re proud to celebrate Lee Child and hope fans will come in to see the free exhibition and stay to explore everything else Birmingham city centre has to offer, from shops and restaurants to cafes and bars.”
Lee Child aged nine years old and dreaming of one day joining the ‘swashbuckling rock-and-rollers’ at Aston Villa at Cherry Orchard Primary School playing fields, taken in 1964 by PE teacher Mr Weaver
Lee Child: Creating Reacher opens at Grand Central, above New Street Station, runs through December and is free to visit.
The exhibition has been made possible thanks to the following partners: Heather Martin, author of The Reacher Guy, Penguin Random House, Transworld, and the Lee Child Archive at UEA, Bullring Birmingham / Hammerson.
