Philip Marsden

Philip Marsden-Smedley (born 11 May 1961), known professionally as Philip Marsden is an English writer who has written in several different genres - travel writing, nature writing, history and fiction. His work has been translated into more than fifteen languages.

Born in Bristol, England, Marsden has a degree in anthropology and worked for some years for The Spectator magazine. He became a full-time writer in the late 1980s. He was elected as a Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature in 1996.

A review of his work by Guy Mannes-Abbott appeared in The Independent newspaper in November 2007.

He lives in Cornwall with his wife, the writer Charlotte Hobson (daughter of Anthony Hobson), and their children.

Marsden's maternal grandfather was Sir James Granville le Neve King of Campsie, 3rd Baronet of the King baronetcy of Campsie in the County of Stirling. Marsden is a first cousin of the current Baronet, Sir James Rupert King of Campsie, 5th Baronet.

Marsden is descended from John Smedley, founder of the eponymous luxury clothing brand which has remained a family business since 1794.