Career
Born and raised in Hull, Rawlings left school at fifteen without any qualifications. He worked as a clerk and then as a stock controller, studying for "A" levels by distance learning. He embarked on an Open University course, gaining a first class honours degree in Humanities, while simultaneously completing a degree in English Language and Literature at the University of Hull, for which he also gained a first.
His doctorate was at Cambridge University where his specialism was Henry James and the Discourse of Organicism.
He later completed an Master of Arts in Education Management at the Open University. His teaching specialisms are American literature, nineteenth-century fiction and Shakespeare.
As well as teaching at UWE he regularly visits Japan to supervise Doctor of Philosophy students.