The Pleasures of Ignorance

Robert Wilson Lynd (1879-1949) was an Irish writer, an urbane literary essayist and strong Irish nationalist. He was born and educated in Belfast, 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 moved to London in 1901. Firstly he wrote drama criticism, for Today, edited by Jerome K. Jerome. He also wrote for the Daily News, being its literary editor 1912 to 1947. The Lynds were well known as literary hosts, in the group including J. B. Priestley. Lynd was a founding committee member of the Book Society. Irish guests included James Joyce and James Stephens. He 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'. Amongst his other works are Old and New Masters (1919), The Art of Letters (1920), The Pleasures of Ignorance (1921) and Essays on Life and Literature (1951).