“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.

Yesterday, the Iranian foreign minister flew to Geneva to meet with European diplomats. President Trump, meanwhile, indicated that cease-fire negotiations might soon begin with Iran, which would presumably involve Tehran agreeing to make concessions regarding its nuclear program, while Washington pressures Israel to halt its military activities. According to Israeli media, Iran already began putting out feelers to the U.S. earlier this week. Aviram Bellaishe considers the purpose of these overtures:

The regime’s request to return to negotiations stems from the principle of deception and delay that has guided it for decades. Iran wants to extricate itself from a situation of total destruction of its nuclear facilities. It understands that to save the nuclear program, it must stop at a point that would allow it to return to it in the shortest possible time. So long as the negotiation process leads to halting strikes on its military capabilities and preventing the destruction of the nuclear program, and enables the transfer of enriched uranium to a safe location, it can simultaneously create the two tracks in which it specializes—a false facade of negotiations alongside a hidden nuclear race.