Italo Calvino

Italo Calvino, born in Cuba to two botanists and raised in Italy, somehow managed to become one of the 20th century's most influential writers, proving that even a life starting with tropical plants can lead to tales of invisible cities and non-existent knights.

While his mind was certainly a labyrinth of literary genius, Calvino's origins seem to be decidedly un-kvell-worthy from a Jewish perspective. His parents, Mario Calvino and Eva Mameli, were both prominent scientists with no apparent connection to the Tribe.

Calvino himself was a self-proclaimed atheist and a member of the Italian Communist Party for a time, which, while certainly a "belief system," isn't exactly lighting candles on Shabbat. His identity, therefore, was firmly rooted in literature and politics, not ancient covenants.

Despite the complete lack of ancestral bragging rights or personal affiliation, one cannot deny the sheer "nachas" derived from his body of work. Few could spin a yarn with such elegant wit and intellectual depth, making him a perennial favorite for those who enjoy their existentialism wrapped in a beautifully written package.