Hugh Kingsmill Lunn (21 November 1889 – 15 May 1949), who dropped his surname for professional purposes, was a versatile British writer and journalist.
His large output includes criticism, essays and biographies, parodies and humour, as well as novels, and he edited a number of anthologies.
The dictum was subsequently used by Richard Ingrams for the title of his memoir of Kingsmill's friendships with Hesketh Pearson and Malcolm Muggeridge,[3] two intimate friends whom he influenced greatly.
Kingsmill's parody of A. E. Housman's poetry has been recognised as definitive: What still alive at twenty-two, A clean, upstanding chap like you?
So, when the spilt ink of the night Spreads o'er the blotting-pad of light, Lads whose job is still to do Shall whet their knives, and think of you.
[6] According to Hesketh Pearson in his preface to High Hill of the Muses (the last of the anthologies) "Kingsmill himself became a little restless when people praised his volume of vituperation."
Owing to his wide reading and good memory, Kingsmill could put together an anthology inside a month, which helped him meet pressing financial commitments.