Philip Ruthen studied English literature and linguistics at UWIST, Cardiff, after formative years from 1964 in Merton and Sutton, Surrey. He gained an MA in English Literature at Warwick University, where his dissertation attempted to develop a Marxist cultural theory during the exploration of Ford Madox Ford’s First World War tetralogy of novels ‘Parade’s End.’

He is a trustee of the national charity Survivors’ Poetry, campaigning alongside people from the mental health system survivor movement in a variety of paid and voluntary roles, both locally and nationally. Recent study includes an MRes in Law from Birkbeck College, University of London, concentrating on mental health and civil rights arenas.

His poetry, short fiction, book reviews and associated articles have appeared in a wide variety of publications, in the UK and abroad, and is proud to say he has been termed a ‘small-press poet’ by some from their headier realms.

Philip Ruthen currently lives in south London.