The fountainhead summary back in the 1920s, two dudespeter keating and howard roarkfinish architecture school and embark on their careers. The fountainhead sparknotes literature guide and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Cliffsnotes on the fountainhead explores the modern classic that made ayn rand famous. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Today, the fountainhead has achieved the status of a modern classic. This edition contains a special afterword by rands literary executor, leonard peikoff, which includes excerpts from ayn rands own notes on the making of the fountainhead. Cliffs notes the fountainhead explores the modern classic that made ayn rand famous. Presenting analysis, context, and criticism on commonly studied works.
The setting of the fountainhead is a collective society in which individuals and new ideas of architecture are not accepted, and all buildings must be constructed like greek temples, gothic cathedrals, and mongrels of every ancient style they could borrow, as roarks patron henry cameron puts it in his deathbed speech. Ayn rand adapted her own famous novel, the fountainhead, for the screen. A poll conducted jointly in 1991 by the library of congress and the book of the month club showed that atlas shrugged was the second most influential book in the lives of the respondents behind only the bible and showed the fountainhead among the top twenty. An ardent idealist, she observes greek sculpture, roarks buildings, the music of tchaikovsky and rachmaninoff, and she understands the human potential.
Introduction, author biography, plot summary, characters, themes, style. Roark, however, thinks for himself indeed, part of the books meaning is that. In her notes on the fountainhead she writes about the book as a whole. The fountainhead ayn rand, 1943 penguin group usa 720 pp. Get a detailed summary and analysis of every chapter in the book from. As fresh today as it was then, here is a novel about a heroand about those who try to destroy him. Following the story of architect howard roark as he attempts to achieve success. The character of catherine halsey in the fountainhead from.
In 1928, rand made notes for a proposed, but never written, novel titled the little street. Stubbornness isnt a bad thing if the motive is pure. Always update books hourly, if not looking, search in the book. The story would have been faster paced, the characters more sharply limned, had whole episodes, repetitive and tautological, been eliminated. Jan 27, 2020 fountainhead cliffs notes by andrew bernstein. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. The theme of the fountainhead is the contrast of, and conflict between, persons of independent functioning and those of dependent functioning. When she was writing the book that was to become the fountainhead, rand used a different title. The fountainhead, ayn rand the fountainhead is a 1943 novel by russianamerican author ayn rand, her first major literary success. Created by harvard students for students everywhere, sparknotes is a new breed of study guide. This lesson will introduce characters, provide a summary, and give an analysis of the book.
The fountainhead book notes the fountainhead by ayn rand the following sections of this bookrags literature study guide is offprint from gales for students series. The fountainhead study guide contains a biography of ayn rand, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The book promotes the themes of objectivism people should make individual, objective decisions and humanism the idea. He sees himself as part of the harmonious view and thinks about. When the fountainhead was released in 1943, rands publishers did not expect much from it. Accessories such as cd, codes, toys, may not be included. Summary read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. The fountainhead can be difficult to follow and one has to be patient to get to the very meat and bones of ayn rands objectivist philosophy. In spite of this excess of verbiage, the novel is a. Howard roark, a sternfaced young man, stands naked at the edge of a granite cliff.
Howard roark affects the lives of nearly everyone he meets in the fountainhead, by ayn rand. Rand took extensive preliminary notes for all of her books. There are more than 1 million books that have been enjoyed by people from all over the world. On the surface, it is a story of one man, howard roark. While the fountainhead made me consider my ethics, it also altered them. She later states its theme as individualism versus collectivism, not in politics, but in mans soul. The fountainhead is about the struggle between the individual and society. It is rare that one can sit down, for pleasure, read a book, for pleasure, and accidentally fumble upon a set of views that challenge those previously held.
The characters, themes and the author herself provided excellent material for discussion. The fountainhead sparknotes literature guidenook book. The fountainhead is a novel by ayn rand that was first published in 1943. As part two begins, howard roark has closed his office and is working in a granite quarry owned by guy francon in connecticut. Book summary the fountainhead takes place in the united states, mostly in new york city, during the 1920s and 1930s.
Theyre like having inclass notes for every discussion. Rands unique philosophy, objectivism, has gained a worldwide audience. These free notes consist of about 105 pages 31,227 words and contain the following sections. However, when reading the first chapter of the book, i began to feel a connection with the characters. It chronicles the struggles of the innovative architect howard roark in his effort to achieve success on his own terms. See a complete list of the characters in the fountainhead and indepth analyses of howard roark, ellsworth toohey, dominique francon, gail wynand, and peter keating. That new faith is individualism in all its deepest meaning and implications. This book helped explain some complicated concepts of the fountainhead in such a concise manner. He is told off by the dean paul stanton, as he does not want to know anything about history or how buildings were built in the past. Part two cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. Stay away from me, stay away from sister or ill have you fired baby pours the jug of water on his crotch. Before calling it the fountainhead, ayn rands working title was secondhand lives. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis.
The novels protagonist, howard roark, is an individualistic young architect who designs modernist buildings and refuses to compromise with an architectural establishment unwilling to accept innovation. While most people consider atlas shrugged her most important work, the fountainhead was responsible for ayn rands sudden leap into public life. Did she want me to stop flirting or stop fountaiinhead my voice gets weird also. A new set of values is need to combat this modern dreariness, whether it be communism. Despite continuing intellectual opposition to ayn rands ideas, the fountainhead has gained recognition as one of the great novels of american literature. But, in principle and in the long run, truth wins out. About the fountainhead cliffsnotes study guides book. Summary as the novel opens, the hero, howard roark, has just been expelled.
Howard roark stands naked at the edge of a granite cliff overlooking a lake. Summary chapter 1 howard roark laughs as he recalls he has just been expelled from architectural school at the stanton institute of technology. The fountainhead is a 1943 novel by russianamerican author ayn rand, her first major. The purpose, the site, the material determine the shape. I wouldnt have been able to grasp the overall concept of fountainhead without it. Dirty dancing and the fountainhead all things jennifer. In the fountainhead, why does dominique francon marry peter keating. The character of catherine halsey in the fountainhead from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. The free the fountainhead notes include comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. Buy a cheap copy of the fountainhead book by ayn rand. Howard roarke stands as the embodiment of ayn rands objectivist philosophy, or at least the individualist idea. Born february 2, 1905, ayn rand published her first novel, we the living, in 1936. The fountainhead page 2 of 3 book summaries and study.
Dominiques marriage to peter keating is one of deliberate selftorture. Roark is the ideal man and plays the heroic role of the story. This idea of living a secondhand or conventional life crops up near the end of the book in a scene with roark, the protagonist, and his frenemy gail wynand. The fountainhead is a 1949 american, blackandwhite drama film from warner bros. The first edition of this novel was published in 1943, and was written by ayn rand. The manner in which ayn rand integrates the theme of the fountainhead with other literary elements is important. In this book summary of the fountainhead by ayn rand, youll find my notes, highlevel ideas, valuable lessons, and important action steps the fountainhead summary. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary. Howard roarke is essentially a man who lives according to his own standards and own ideals. In her novel, the fountainhead, ayn rand explores the struggle between the individual and society. Thus, ayn rands writing style is congruent with the novels theme.
Rands screenplay, among other things, criticized the hollywood film industry and its. The reader, too in order to fully understand and appreciate the fountainhead must think independently. Robert mayhew brings together historical, literary, and philosophical essays that analyze the novels style, its use of humor, and its virtues of productivity, independence, and integrity. In her first notes for the fountainhead, ayn rand describes its purpose as a defense of egoism in its real meaning. Possible ex library copy, will have the markings and stickers associated from the library. The fountainhead by ayn rand january 20, 2004 at 14. The fountainhead concerns an architect, howard roark, who, despite controversy, sticks to his designs without altering them to please anyone.
It falls short, as do so many modern novels, in the apparent inability of the author or editor to be a ruthless surgeon. Her idea for the book was to contrast the firsthanded independence of her hero, howard roark, with other characters who are variations on the theme of secondhandedness. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of. The fountainhead book summaries and study materials. The original cliffsnotes study guides offer a look into key elements an. Free part 1, chapter 1 summary of the fountainhead by ayn rand. Page numbers from the fountainhead will hereafter appear in brackets in the text. The fountainhead by ayn rand reading guidebook club. Giving the cliffs notes 3 stars because it seems to be a decent overview of a bad book, though perhaps overly fawning. It made me realize that man could be as great as he wants to be, and how acheivement is our ultimate goal. Initial sales were slow, but the book gained a following by word of mouth and became a bestseller. A development of this theme is the case of the manhattan bank building. I think its a book youll enjoy but make sure you return it i have notes in the margin. Get e books the fountainhead on pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi and audiobook for free.
The book was published in multiple languages including english language, consists of 720 pages and is available in mass market paperback format. Therefore it need a free signup process to obtain the book. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this the fountainhead study guide and get instant access to. For the readers convenience, i cite rands works in the widely available paperback editions. His personal values are strong and he will not compromise on his art. This disagreement is crucial to an understanding of the fountainhead, for the books central conflict is between people who are realitycentered and people who are centered instead on other people.
Brings out a copy of the fountainhead from his pocket robbie gould. Free part 1, chapter summary of the fountainhead by ayn rand. Written in 1943, the fountainhead introduced new views on rands philosophy, objectivism. The fountainhead has become an enduring piece of literature, more popular now than when published in 1943.
While the majority of the group did not enjoy reading this book, we did have a great discussion. Pdf the fountainhead book by ayn rand free download 720. This book really helps a reader see the big picture. Id read the book and wondered about the meaning of some of the story and the cliffs notes were a great summary. Free download or read online the fountainhead pdf epub book. This onepage guide aa plot summary and brief analysis of the fountainhead by ayn rand.
To their surprise, the work quickly became a wordofmouth bestseller. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. This disagreement is crucial to an understanding of the fountainhead, for the book s central conflict is between people who are realitycentered and people who are centered instead on other people. It is a story of individualism fighting collectivism. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of the fountainhead. Filmed in 1949, the outcome is odd, to say the least, but it has its interesting moments. On the surface, it is a story of one man, howard roark, and his struggles as an architect in the face of a successful rival, peter keating, and a newspaper columnist, ellsworth toohey. Dominique francon vacations that summer at her fathers nearby estate. The fundamentals of her philosophy are put forth in three nonfiction books, introduction to. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The book carried forth the authors anticommunist ideals and conviction that individuals should not allow their lives to be dominated in any way by the beliefs of others. The fountainhead takes place in the united states, mostly in new york city, during the 1920s and 1930s. Presenting analysis, context, and criticism on commonly studied. The fountainhead part i, chapters 15 summary and analysis.
In this pn tv episode, well have fun with a few of my favorite big ideas from ayn rands classic the fountainhead. Having been previously warned of this somewhat insane, entirely selfish philosophy, i entered the book with an indisputable bias. Later in the book, when she and keating make plans to go away and get married, she triumphantly tells toohey that she is not afraid of him. The fountainhead is a 1943 novel by russianamerican author ayn rand, her first major literary success. The novel begins as howard roark is expelled from stanton and peter keating graduates. The fountainhead continues to be an example of its own theme. Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the the fountainhead, you will able to read or download in pdf or epub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country. It was with the publication of the fountainhead 1943 and atlas shrugged 1957 that she achieved her spectacular success. The fountainhead sparknotes literature guide by ayn rand making the reading experience fun. Dominique francon, steven mallory, and gail wynand views of life are all affected by roark and develop throughout the novel unlike roark who is a constant figure throughout. I read it when i was about 60% of the way through the book when i grabbed the cliff notes. Peter keating graduates with top honors and goes to work for a hotshot firm in new york, headed by a dude named guy francon best name ever, in our notsohumbleopinions.