Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Old and new masters

Rate this book
This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. This text refers to the Bibliobazaar edition.

249 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1919

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Robert Lynd

86 books18 followers
Robert Wilson Lynd was an Irish writer, an urbane literary essayist and strong Irish nationalist.

He was born in Belfast and educated at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, studying at Queen's University. His background was Protestant, his father being a Presbyterian Church Moderator.

He began as a journalist on The Northern Whig in Belfast. He became a fluent Irish speaker, and Gaelic League member. As a Sinn Féin activist, he used the name Robiard Ó Flionn/Roibeard ua Flionn.

He wrote for The Republic in its early days. He spoke at the funeral in 1916 of Irish Republican and Marxist James Connolly, whose works Labour in Ireland, Labour in Irish History and The Re-Conquest of Ireland he subsequently edited. He was also a loyal friend of Roger Casement.

He moved to London in 1901, via Manchester, sharing accommodation with his friend the artist Paul Henry. Firstly he wrote drama criticism, for "Today", edited by Jerome K. Jerome. He also wrote for the "Daily News" (later the News Chronicle), being its literary editor 1912 to 1947.

Lynd married the writer Sylvia Dryhurst, whom he met at Gaelic League meetings in London, in 1909. Their daughters Máire and Sigle became close friends of Isaiah Berlin. Sigle's son, born in 1941, is the artist Tim Wheeler.

The Lynds settled in Hampstead, in Keats Grove near the John Keats house, where they were well known as literary hosts, in the group including J.B. Priestley. They were on good terms also with Hugh Walpole; Priestley, Walpole and Sylvia Lynd were founding committee members of the Book Society. Irish guests included James Joyce and James Stephens. On one occasion reported by Victor Gollancz, Joyce intoned Anna Livia Plurabelle to his own piano accompaniment.

Lynd used the pseudonym Y.Y. ("Ys," or "wise, you see") in writing for the New Statesman. According to C. H. Rolph's Kingsley (1973), Lynd's weekly essay, which ran from 1913 to 1945, was 'irreplaceable.' In 1941, editor Kingsley Martin decided to alternate it with pieces by James Bridie on Ireland, but the experiment was not at all a success. Lynd died in 1949 and is buried in Belfast City Cemetery.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2 (25%)
4 stars
2 (25%)
3 stars
3 (37%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
1 (12%)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Profile Image for Galicius.
993 reviews
September 4, 2018
Read Chapter 3 "Mr. G.K. Chesterton and Mr. Hilaire Belloc". It deals more with GK but after reading both recently this was an interesting comparison of the two. I missed on first reading of this chapter:

“It could truly be said of the English gentleman . . .that his honour stood rooted in dishonor. . .His glory did not come from the Crusades, but from the Great Pillage. . .The oligarchs were descended from usurers and thieves. That, for good or evil was the parodox of England; the typical aristocrat was the typical upstart.” P. 22

• Dostoyevsky the Sensationalist—Lynd is critical of Dostoyevsky’s exuberances. He doesn’t mention Dostoyevsky’s epilepsy which is a major issue with this man.
• Jane Austen: Natural Historian—emphasizes her higher class background
• Mr. G.K. Chesterton and Mr. Hilaire Belloc
o The Heavenly Twins
o The Copiousness of Mr. Belloc
o The Two Mr. Chestertons.
• Wordsworth
• Keats. If I was his age perhaps I would have the same feelings about his Romanticism as I had about it when I was his age.
• Synge. I agree that “Riders to the Sea” is his masterwork. I was overwhelmed by my first reading.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews