704 pages
English language
Published June 10, 2006 by Signet.
Here is the story of an intransigent young architect, Howard Roark, of his violent battle against a mindless status quo, and of his explosive love affair with a beautiful woman who worships him yet struggles to defeat him. In order to build his kind of buildings according to his own standards, Roark must fight against every variant of human corruption.
Apparently women in Ayn Rand’s world need to get sexually assaulted from time to time to feel...empowered? Adding insult to injury, it doesn’t help that Rand’s prose is tedious and dopey.
"The Great Gatsby", or "The Last Tycoon", as written by - "300" and "Sin City" author Frank Miller. Regardless of the contemporary context - Ayn Rand reemerging as a conservative icon - this is simply not a very engaging story. Boring characters, terribly cheesy dialogue. --- Not because I would be "offended" by any implicit revelation this book might bring me, but because it's a fairly standard novel of manners from the 1930s. If you like the style, say, á la Galsworthy, then it's going to be something you might want to consider. But otherwise, especially as long as other, better writers from the time remain unread to you - choose them. Faulkner, Thomas Wolfe, Huxley, they are all just plainly better at writing than Rand is.
This book is - just like "Atlas shrugged" - a vehicle to expose Ayn Rand's view on life. She doesn't shun strawman arguments and cardboard characters to do so.
Nevertheless this is an interesting read. I'm not an American and it helped me understand something of the US conservatives train of thought. Why projects helping the weaker in society seem so repulsive to them - every act of selflessness is suspect.
"Now observe the results of a society built on the principle of individualism. This, our country. The noblest country in the history of men. The country of greatest achievement, greatest prosperity, greatest freedom. This country was not based on selfless service, sacrifice, renunciation or any precept of altruism. It was based on a man's right to the pursuit of happiness. His own happiness. Not anyone else's. A private, personal, selfish motive. Look at the results. Look into your own …
This book is - just like "Atlas shrugged" - a vehicle to expose Ayn Rand's view on life. She doesn't shun strawman arguments and cardboard characters to do so.
Nevertheless this is an interesting read. I'm not an American and it helped me understand something of the US conservatives train of thought. Why projects helping the weaker in society seem so repulsive to them - every act of selflessness is suspect.
"Now observe the results of a society built on the principle of individualism. This, our country. The noblest country in the history of men. The country of greatest achievement, greatest prosperity, greatest freedom. This country was not based on selfless service, sacrifice, renunciation or any precept of altruism. It was based on a man's right to the pursuit of happiness. His own happiness. Not anyone else's. A private, personal, selfish motive. Look at the results. Look into your own conscience."
The strange thing is that for Rand this encompasses not only socialism but also religion, nationalism and family - while exactly these three seem to be cornerstones for the conservative US.
I gave it four stars because it made me look at my own convictions again - and adjust them. Not as much as Atlas shrugged, though. That book is sort of the same as this one, but Rand's ideas are better developed there (and the story is better).
Better than Atlas Shrugged.
Great story and the best villain of all time.
Where [book: Atlas Shrugged] is Rand's overarching philosophical and political treatise, The Fountainhead is her tribute to art, love and the romantic spirit.
Of course, in Rand's conception art, politics, love, philosophy and human interaction all are interwoven, so it's no surprise that to her that the true artist constantly has to struggle against the whims of politicians who use their petty power to sway the masses and fund outlandish and inefficient architectural projects for their own gain. As he struggles, the true artist has but to find solace and security in the knowledge that he is, in fact, being true to his own nature and the sensibility of the art that he creates.
As may be expected, Rand explores a host of ideas in this book, which include but are not limited to: Finding contentment with one's self and actions, the nature and utility of art, what constitutes love, …
Where [book: Atlas Shrugged] is Rand's overarching philosophical and political treatise, The Fountainhead is her tribute to art, love and the romantic spirit.
Of course, in Rand's conception art, politics, love, philosophy and human interaction all are interwoven, so it's no surprise that to her that the true artist constantly has to struggle against the whims of politicians who use their petty power to sway the masses and fund outlandish and inefficient architectural projects for their own gain. As he struggles, the true artist has but to find solace and security in the knowledge that he is, in fact, being true to his own nature and the sensibility of the art that he creates.
As may be expected, Rand explores a host of ideas in this book, which include but are not limited to: Finding contentment with one's self and actions, the nature and utility of art, what constitutes love, etc.
Atlas may be considered her crowning achievement, but in my opinion this book is far better.
