JOHN IDRIS JONES was born in the Berwyn mountains of mid-Wales, Welsh-speaking, he moved to Ruthin where he attended Brynhyfryd School. He then studied at the universities of Keele, Leeds and Cornell (where he held the Philosophical Foundations Assistantship). He taught at Northern Illinois University, then in Cardiff, at the College of Education and the University. He ran a publishing company, retiring to live in Ruthin, where he lives with his wife Denise, who was a Member of the Welsh Assembly.