“The New York intellectuals, Irving Howe once said, were obsessed ‘by the idea of the Jew (not always distinguished from the idea of Delmore Schwartz),’” writes the critic David Mikics, in a review attempt to sort out how much the legendary American Jewish writer’s reputation tracks his actual literary worth.

Ben Mazer’s new edition of Schwartz’s Collected Poems aims to resurrect Schwartz the working poet, rather than the once-brilliant wreck of a human being who descended into madness. The results are mixed. Delmore’s Collected Poems encompasses much disappointing verse, along with a handful of lyrics that will live forever. All too often, Schwartz runs into the high weeds of hysterical sentiment, or plunges headlong into bathos. But there are gems amid the dreck, and Mazer has done admirable work. . . .

A stronger writer might have made sublimity rather than self-indulgence out of Schwartz’s background. But what he has left us is enough: a dozen intensely memorable poems, one undying short story, and some discerning critical essays.

Last week, the Lebanese parliament chose Joseph Aoun to be the country’s next president, filling a position that has been vacant since 2022. Aoun, currently commander of the military—and reportedly supported by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia—edged out Suleiman Frangiyeh, Hizballah’s preferred candidate. But while Aoun’s victory is a step in the right direction, David Daoud sounds a cautionary note:

Lebanon’s president lacks the constitutional authority to order Hizballah’s disarmament, and Aoun was elected as another “consensus president” with Hizballah’s votes. They wouldn’t vote for a man who would set in motion a process leading to their disarmament.

Habib Malik agrees that hoping for too much to come out of the election could constitute “daydreaming,” but he nonetheless believes the Lebanese have a chance to win their country back from Hizballah and, ultimately, make peace with Israel:

Lebanon’s 2019 economic collapse and the 2020 massive explosion at the Beirut Port were perpetrated by the ruling mafia, protected ever since by Hizballah. [But] Lebanon’s anti-Iran/Hizballah communities constitute a reliable partner for both the U.S. and Israel. The Lebanese are desperate to be rid of Iranian influence in order to pursue regional peace and prosperity with their neighbors. Suddenly, a unique opportunity for peace breaking out between Israel and Lebanon could be upon us, particularly given President Trump’s recent reelection with a landslide mandate. It was under Trump’s first term that the Abraham Accords came into being and so under his second term they could certainly be expanded.

As matters stand, Lebanon has very few major contentious issues with Israel. The precisely targeted and methodical nature of Israel’s war in Lebanon against Hizballah and what has unfolded in Syria make this outcome a far more attainable goal.