The Ego is Always at the Wheel

Delmore Schwartz as light essayist is a genuine surprise — the wit here is sly and the cultural observations still land, especially his pieces on automobiles and the telephone. The problem is that these were never polished for publication, so some feel more like drafts than finished essays, and Schwartz's mid-century preoccupations will feel remote to many readers. Worth finding if you're already a Schwartz devotee; too niche a gateway for newcomers.