Thomas William Lyster (1855–1922) was director of the

National Library of Ireland The National Library of Ireland (NLI; ga, Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann) is the Republic of Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The mission of the National Library of Ireland is ...

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...

between 1895 and his retirement in 1920. Lyster joined the library in 1878 and was appointed as its director in 1895. He was also a scholar who translated Düntzer’s ''Life of

Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as treat ...

'' in 1883 and edited a poetry schoolbook, the ''Intermediate School Anthology''. Although a member of the

Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the second ...

, he was used by

James Joyce James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) was an Irish novelist, poet, and literary critic. He contributed to the modernist avant-garde movement and is regarded as one of the most influential and important writers of ...

as the model for the eponymous "quaker librarian" in his novel ''

Ulysses Ulysses is one form of the Roman name for Odysseus, a hero in ancient Greek literature. Ulysses may also refer to: People * Ulysses (given name), including a list of people with this name Places in the United States * Ulysses, Kansas * Ulysse ...

''. An whimsical account of him is given in

Oliver St John Gogarty Oliver Joseph St. John Gogarty (17 August 1878 – 22 September 1957) was an Irish poet, author, otolaryngologist, athlete, politician, and well-known conversationalist. He served as the inspiration for Buck Mulligan in James Joyce's novel ...

's '' As I was Going down Sackville Street'' when Gogarty visits the national library. In this book Lyster is very solicitous of the various needs of the readers in the library. Lyster lived at 10

Harcourt Terrace Harcourt Terrace is a Regency and Victorian terrace located in Dublin City, Ireland. It links the Grand Canal at Charlemont Place with Adelaide Road, near the National Concert Hall. History The terrace first appears on maps in 1833, and is ...

Works

* 1883: Heinrich Düntzer’s ''Life of Goethe''. London: Macmillan & Co. (translation) *A series of volumes called ''English Poems for Young Students'' (editor) *1893: ''Select Poetry for Young Students''; 2nd ed *''Intermediate School Anthology''

References

1855 births 1922 deaths Irish librarians {{library-bio-stub