Ian Morson was born in the Midlands town of Derby in 1947 into a hardworking family, with members either employed at Rolls-Royce or on the railways. He received his early education at a local grammar school, which was known for its high academic standards. This school was one of the few institutions that taught Russian, a subject that Morson would later pursue in his higher education.
In 1965, Morson secured a scholarship to Oxford University, where he studied Russian. While at Oxford, he developed a deep appreciation for folk music, often performing at local pubs and clubs. He was also the president of the Heritage Society and almost had the opportunity to meet Bill Clinton, who was a student at the same college but in a different year. Morson fell in love with Oxford and, after graduation, obtained a grant to research folk-life studies at Leeds University for a year. He wrote a thesis on Folk and Music-hall songs, but upon completing his research, he had to find a job in the real world.
Morson began his professional career in London as a library assistant in Harrow and progressed to a senior post in public libraries over the next twenty years. During this time, he got married twice and now resides in Mevagissey, Cornwall. He became interested in conservation and spends much of his time doing volunteer work for the National Trust. Morson also directs and performs for St Austell Players, a local am-dram group. He began writing seriously at the age of 42, after dabbling in radio plays and poetry, and his first Falconer novel was published when he was 47.