The Fountainhead
Cover of the first edition
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| Author | Ayn Rand |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Philosophical novel |
| Publisher | Bobbs Merrill |
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Publication date
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1943 |
| Media type | Hardback, paperback, e-book |
| Pages | 753 (1st edition) |
| OCLC | 300033023 |
The Fountainhead is a 1943 novel by Ayn Rand and was her first major literary success. The novel's protagonist, Howard Roark, is an individualistic young architect who refuses to compromise his artistic and personal vision for worldly recognition and success. The story follows his battle to practice modern architecture while opposed by an establishment centered on tradition. Roark embodies what Rand believed to be the ideal man, and his struggle reflects Rand's belief that individualism is superior to collectivism.
Roark is opposed by what Rand described as "second-handers", who value conformity more than independence and integrity. These include Roark's former classmate, Peter Keating, who succeeds by following popular styles, but turns to Roark for help with design problems. Ellsworth Toohey, a socialist architecture critic who uses his influence to promote his political and social agendas, tries to destroy Roark's career. Newspaper publisher Gail Wynand seeks to shape popular opinion; he befriends Roark, then betrays him when public opinion turns in a direction he cannot control. The novel's most controversial character is Roark's lover, Dominique Francon. She believes that non-conformity has no chance of winning, so she alternates between helping Roark and working to undermine him. Their relationship begins with a sexual encounter that feminist critics have denounced as endorsing rape.
Twelve publishers rejected the manuscript before an editor at the Bobbs-Merrill Company risked his job to get it published. Contemporary reviewer opinions were mixed. Some praised the novel as a powerful presentation of individualism, while others thought it was too long and that it lacked sympathetic characters. Initial sales were slow, but the book gained a following by word of mouth and became a bestseller. More than 6.5 million copies have been sold worldwide. It has been translated into more than 20 languages. The novel attracted a new following for Rand and has had ongoing influence, especially among political libertarians and in the field of architecture.
The novel has been adapted to other media several times. An illustrated adaptation was syndicated to newspapers in 1945. Warner Bros. produced a film version in 1949. Rand wrote the screenplay, and Gary Cooper played Roark. The film was panned by critics and earned less than its production budget at the box office. Several filmmakers have considered doing a remake, but no new film adaptation has been done. In 2014, Belgian theater director Ivo van Hove created a stage adaptation, which has received mostly positive reviews.
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