Author Lee Child receives De Montfort University degree

21 July 2011 Last updated at 05:33 ET Help

Bestselling thriller-writer Lee Child has been awarded an honorary degree from De Montfort University in Leicester.

The author has sold 50 million novels worldwide, all following the adventures of his heroic character Jack Reacher.

He said it was a "a thrill" to receive the title of Honorary Doctor of Letters.

Speaking at the university's graduation ceremony, he reassured students about their future careers, reminding them he only started writing at the age of 40.

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