Edmund Wilson, a prominent literary critic, delved into the study of Hebrew in the 1950s, merging his familial connections to Presbyterian and scholarly traditions with a newfound interest in Jewish intellectualism as reflected in his visits to Israel and writings on Jewish authors like S.Y. Agnon.

Paul Valéry's poem "La Jeune Parque" or "The Young Fate" from 1917 remains enigmatic even a century later, showcasing Valéry as the last of the Symbolists with a dedication to poetic innovation amidst the crisis of verse at the end of the 19th century.