Essays on Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

Book Overview

In this unique study of The Fountainhead, Dr. Robert Mayhew brings together historical, literary, and philosophical essays that analyze the novel's style, its use of humor, and its virtues of productivity, independence, and integrity. The essays make extensive use of previously unpublished material from the Ayn Rand Archives, offering a new collection of material to explore and consider.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0739115782
• ISBN13: 9780739115787
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Length: 364 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Scholarship as it should be and ought to be

A superb collection of essays on Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead". I read it specifically for its philosophical essays. The essay on Independence by UT Austin Professor, Dr Tara Smith, is worth the price of the book itself. Onkar Ghate's essay on the Creators and their basic motivation is stellar, too. The essays by Tore Boeckman, discussing Issues in aesthetics, are great but slightly difficult to digest, given that he is doing original work in this field. The essays on the novel's history are worth reading, though I wasn't too Interested in them. All in all, this is the kind of scholarship that is deserved by this great classic. Two thumbs up!!

Socialism Don't Work

And I should know. Read this book? Girl, I'm sorry to say I'm LIVING this book. I'd love to say more, but you probably figured already, the microphone is always on. Voice to skull. I love this place. The people are really nice. I love this place. The people are really nice. I love this place. The people are really nice. I love this place. The people are really nice. I love this place. The people are really nice. I love this place. The people are really nice. I love this place. The people are really nice. I love this place. The people are really nice. Btw, notice the photo of Rand? She looks REALLY trans.

a must read

This book is a must read after you finish The Fountainhead. I still reference this book. the insights are invaluable.

Penetrating analysis and interesting tidbits

Robert Mayhew's collection of essays is a fine addition to the growing literature on the fiction of Ayn Rand, next to his previous Essays on Anthem and Essays on We the Living (and the upcoming Essays on Atlas Shrugged). I've read most of the essays in this volume and can particularly recommend Onkar Ghate's, which I think really captures the essence and meaning of the novel. Ghate discusses the novel from the perspective of the conflict between the creators and the second handers and makes many excellent points. Highly recommended.

INSIGHT INTO THE GREAT CLASSIC!

Most people don't read literary criticism for pleasure. With good reason: most of it's pretentious, muddle-headed, even corrupt, spouting the poisonous dogma that your mind can't see facts, all it sees is warped by "class, race, and gender." (Then how can they claim that as fact?) This book is a glowing exception. It's a clear, straightforward, helpful, and fascinating look at Ayn Rand's immortal classic, written by noted scholars. Here are partial contents: "The Fountainhead" from Notebook to Novel: The Composition of Ayn Rand's First Ideal Man, by Shoshana Milgram Howard Roark and Frank Lloyd Wright, by Michael Berliner Adapting "The Fountainhead" to Film, by Jeff Britting "The Fountainhead" as a Romantic Novel, by Tore Boeckmann What Might Be and Ought to Be: Aristotle's "Poetics" and "The Fountainhead," by Tore Boeckmann Three Inspirations for the Ideal Man: Cyrus Paltons, Enjolras, and Cyrano de Bergerac, by Shoshana Milgram Unborrowed Vision: Independence and Egoism in "The Fountainhead," by Tara Smith Rorak's Integrity, by Dina Schein A Moral Dynamiting, by Amy Peikoff Highly recommended! Don't miss it!