ATLAS SHRUGGED By Ayn Rand
About the author Rand was born as Алиса Зиновьевна Розенбаум on February 2, 1905, to a bourgeois family living in Saint Petersburg. In women's gymnasium she studied with Olga Nabokova, a sister of the famous writer. In 1921 -24 she studied in Petrograd State University. The subsequent October Revolution disrupted the comfortable life the family had previously enjoyed, and later Rand emigrated to the USA.
Atlas shrugged The book describes what the main forces of the world – production, creation and creativity – are kept on the shoulders of the main characters of the novel. In the author’s opinion, the humanity existence is possible due to these “atlantes”. And when government usurps power and destroys all their system, the world collides.
Overview “Atlas shrugged” consists of three parts. In the first part, we became acquainted with Taggart Transcontinental, a big railroad corporation, and its manager Dagny Taggart. Dagny attempts to keep the company alive during difficult economic times marked by collectivism and statism. Soon in becomes clear that government and other people who constantly interfere with the progressive things they don’t understand, are just parasites.
Dagny Taggart The protagonist of the novel. Vice-President in Charge of Operations for Taggart Transcontinental, under her brother, James Taggart. Due to James' incompetence, it is Dagny who is responsible for all the workings of the railroad.
Henry "Hank" Rearden Owns the most important steel company in the United States. Invents Rearden Metal, an alloy stronger than steel (with similar properties to stainless steel). Have romantic relationships with Dagny
John Galt “Who is John Galt? ” – it is the first sentence of the book. This strange question is being asked by different people and it is like a proverb in the novel’s universe. This name is a key to all strange what happens. However… I will not reveal the mystery of this name. Read the book!
Themes Philosophy – conception of objectivism. Government and business Property rights and individualism Rational egoism
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