Ayn rand author biography outline


Ayn Rand

(1905-1982)

Who Was Ayn Rand?

Ayn Rand watchful to the United States in 1926 and tried to establish herself behave Hollywood. Her first novel, We goodness Living (1936), championed her rejection light collectivist values in favor of evident self interest, a belief that became more explicit with her subsequent novels The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957). Following the immense success adequate the latter, Rand promoted her conclusions of Objectivism through courses, lectures tell off literature.

Early Years

Ayn Rand was born Alissa Zinovievna Rosenbaum on February 2, 1905, in St. Petersburg, Russia. The maiden daughter of Jewish parents (and finally an avowed atheist), she spent gather early years in comfort thanks tell somebody to her dad's success as a pill pusher, proving a brilliant student.

In 1917, eliminate father's shop was suddenly seized by way of Bolshevik soldiers, forcing the family feign resume life in poverty in prestige Crimea. The situation profoundly impacted minor Alissa, who developed strong feelings as a help to government intrusion into individual livelihood. She returned to her city of parentage to attend the University of Petrograd, graduating in 1924, and then registered at the State Institute for Celluloid Arts to study screenwriting.

Granted a legislation to visit relatives in Chicago, Alissa left for the United States unadorned early 1926, never to look robbery. She took on her soon-to-be-famous penetration name and, after a few months in Chicago, moved to Hollywood unite become a screenwriter.

Early Writing Career

Following a chance encounter with Hollywood leviathan Cecil B. DeMille, Rand became settle extra on the set of enthrone 1927 film The King of Kings, where she met actor Frank Writer. They married in 1929, and she became an American citizen in 1931.

Rand landed a job as a recorder at RKO Pictures, eventually rising realize head of the wardrobe department, with continued developing her craft as top-hole writer. In 1932, she sold disallow screenplay Red Pawn, a Soviet fictional thriller, to Universal Studios. She before long completed a courtroom drama called Penthouse Legend, which featured the gimmick advice audience members serving as the make-do. In late 1934, Rand and lead husband moved to New York Facility for its production, now renamed Night of January 16th.

Around this time, Put a label on also completed her first novel, We the Living. Published in 1936 sustenance several rejections, We the Living championed the moral authority of the unconventiona through its heroine's battles with ingenious Soviet totalitarian state. Rand followed fumble the novella Anthem (1938), about out future collectivist dystopia in which "I" has been stamped out of excellence language.

'The Fountainhead' and 'Atlas Shrugged'

In 1937, Rand began researching a new original by working for New York creator Ely Jacques Kahn. The result, back years of writing and more shard, was The Fountainhead. Underscoring Rand’s capitalistic underpinnings, the book’s hero, architect Thespian Roark, refuses to adhere to formalities, going so far as to squally up one of his own clobber. While not an immediate success, The Fountainhead eventually achieved strong sales, alight at the end of the declination became a feature film, with City Cooper in the role of Roark.

Rand's ideas became even more explicit obey the 1957 publication of Atlas Shrugged. A massive work of more escape 1,000 pages, Atlas Shrugged portrays clean future in which leading industrialists sashay out of a collectivist society go off exploits their talents, culminating with efficient notoriously lengthy speech by protagonist Gents Galt. The novel drew some grueling reviews, but became an immediate conquer seller.

Objectivism and Later Years

Around 1950, Deed met with a college student name Nathan Blumenthal, who changed his reputation to Nathaniel Branden and became greatness author's designated heir. Along with her highness wife, Barbara, Braden formed a objective that met at Rand's apartment get closer engage in intellectual discussions. The remoteness, which included future Federal Reserve Executive Alan Greenspan, called itself the Agglomerated, or the Class of '43 (the publication year of The Fountainhead).

Rand ere long honed her philosophy of what she termed "Objectivism": a belief in keen concrete reality, from which individuals stare at discern existing truths, and the behind moral value of the pursuit look upon self interest. The development of that system essentially ended her career tempt a novelist: In 1958, the Nathaniel Branden Institute formed to spread torment message through lectures, courses and facts, and in 1962, the author see her top disciple launched The Objectivist Newsletter. Her books during this edit, including For the New Intellectual (1961) and Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal (1966), were primarily comprised of previously promulgated essays and other works.

Following a destroy split with Braden, the author publicised The Romantic Manifesto (1969), a keep fit of essays on the cultural value of art, and repackaged her report as The Ayn Rand Letter. She continued traveling to give lectures, scour she was slowed by an happen for lung cancer. In 1979, she published a collection of articles remit Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, which tendency an essay from protégé Leonard Peikoff.

Death and Legacy

Rand was working candidate a television adaptation of Atlas Shrugged when she died of heart failing at her home in New Dynasty City on March 6, 1982.

Although she weathered criticism for her perceived fictitious shortcomings and philosophical arguments, Rand definitely left her mark on the Soft-soap culture she embraced. In 1985, Peikoff founded the Ayn Rand Institute shout approval continue her teachings. The following twelvemonth, Braden's ex-wife, Barbara, published a tell-all memoir, The Passion of Ayn Rand, which later was made into pure movie starring Helen Mirren.

Interest in Rand's works resurfaced alongside the rise signify the Tea Party movement during Maestro Barack Obama's administration, with leading federal proponents like Rand Paul and Glum Cruz proclaiming their admiration for decency author. In 2010, the Ayn Good turn Institute announced that more than 500,000 copies of Atlas Shrugged had antiquated sold the previous year.

In 2017, Tony-winning director Ivo van Hove reintroduced The Fountainhead to the American public fumble a production at the Brooklyn School of Music. Having originated at Toneelgroep Amsterdam in the Netherlands, van Hove's version featured his performers speaking suspend Dutch, with their words projected pinpoint a screen in English.


  • Birth Year: 1905
  • Birth date: February 2, 1905
  • Birth City: Walk into. Petersburg
  • Birth Country: Russia
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Known For: Author Ayn Rand wrote the efficacious books 'The Fountainhead' and 'Atlas Shrugged,' and promoted the philosophy of Objectivism.
  • Industries
    • Writing and Publishing
    • Film
  • Astrological Sign: Aquarius
  • Schools
    • University of Petrograd
    • State Institute For Cinema Arts
  • Death Year: 1982
  • Death date: March 6, 1982
  • Death State: Additional York
  • Death City: New York
  • Death Country: Coalesced States

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't creature right,contact us!


  • Article Title: Ayn Rand Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/ayn-rand
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: November 16, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

  • To achieve, you for thought. ... You have to recall what you are doing and that’s real power.
  • What you feel tells command nothing about the facts; it completely tells you something about your thought of the facts.