Essays on Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged

This is the first scholarly study of Atlas Shrugged, covering in detail the historical, literary, and philosophical aspects of Ayn Rand's magnum opus. Topics explored in depth include the history behind the novel's creation, publication, and reception; its nature as a romantic novel; and its presentation of a radical new philosophy.

While the fiction of novelist-philosopher Ayn Rand is extremely popular and enduring, little has been written on it so far. This book consists of essays, most of which are new, by top Rand scholars on Atlas Shrugged, her magnum opus. The essays deal with historical, literary, and philosophical topics, surpassing related writings in breadth and depth of analysis. The historical essays cover the writing of Atlas Shrugged, its publication history, and its reception. The literary essays cover analysis of the novel's plot, theme, and characterization; comparisons with other works, such as the novels of Hugo, Dostoyevsky, and Joyce; and the proper approach to adapting Atlas Shrugged to film. The philosophical essays cover a vast range of topics, including the place of Galt's speech in the novel, the role of the mind in human life, and the evil of non-objective law. Some of the essays make use of previously unpublished material from the Ayn Rand Archives.

1 Preface
Chapter 2 Chapter 1. The Part and Chapter Headings ofAtlas Shrugged
Chapter 3 Chapter 2. WhoWas John Galt? The Creation of Ayn Rand's Ultimate Ideal Man
Chapter 4 Chapter 3. The Spirit of Francisco d'Anconia: The Development of His Characterization
Chapter 5 Chapter 4. A Note on Francisco's Ancestry
Chapter 6 Chapter 5. Working for Ayn Rand: Selections from Facets of Ayn Rand
Chapter 7 Chapter 6 Publishing Atlas Shrugged
Chapter 8 Chapter 7. The Atlas Shrugged Reviews
Chapter 9 Chapter 8. Reply to Whittaker Chambers
Chapter 10 Chapter 9. Atlas Shrugged and the Metaphysics of Values
Chapter 11 Chapter 10. Atlas Shrugged as the Culmination of the Romantic Novel
Chapter 12 Chapter 11. A Tale of Two Novels
Chapter 13 Chapter 12. Adapting Atlas Shrugged to Film
Chapter 14 Chapter 13. Atlas Shrugged on the Role of the Mind in Man's Existence
Chapter 15 Chapter 14. Ayn Rand's Ethics: From The Fountainhead to Atlas Shrugged
Chapter 16 Chapter 15. No Tributes to Caesar: Good or Evil in Atlas Shrugged
Chapter 17 Chapter 16. The Businessmen's Crucial Role: Material Men of the Mind
Chapter 18 Chapter 17. The Traits of Business Heroes in Atlas Shrugged
Chapter 19 Chapter 18. "Humanity's Darkest Evil": The Lethal Destructiveness of Non-Objective Law
Chapter 20 Chapter 19. The Role of Galt's Speech in Atlas Shrugged
Chapter 21 Chapter 20. Galt's Speech in Five Sentences (and Forty Questions)
Chapter 22 Chapter 21. Discovering Atlantis: Atlas Shrugged's Demonstration of a New Moral Philosophy
Chapter 23 Chapter 22. A Note on Dagny's "Final Choice"