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The Later Years of Ayn Rand

Rand's Life, 1957-1982

Mar 31, 2009 Jeffrey Donaldson

After Ayn Rand published Atlas Shrugged, her career changed dramatically. This article discusses the period after Atlas Shrugged until her death in 1982.

This article reviews information from Catherine Daligga's article in the Jewish Virtual Library.

Successes and Failures From Atlas Shrugged

After she had spent eleven years writing Atlas Shrugged, the book was published by Random House in 1957.

Initially, the reviews were largely negative, with reviewers expressing difficulty believing that the talented, hardworking, and creative members of society constituted and oppressed minority. Some reviewers described the message of the book as Fascist, which is far removed from the novel’s depiction of a society founded on voluntary cooperation and mutual self interest.

This negative reaction led to Rand's withdrawal from literature, and she published no work of fiction after it.

Despite the critical reaction, Atlas Shrugged became a bestseller over time, inspiring a generation of young people to adopt the philosophical values outlined in the book.

The Founding of the Nathaniel Branden Institute

Nathaniel Branden (formerly Nathan Blumenthal) encouraged Rand, after she had withdrawn, to start the Nathaniel Branden Institute in New York, where Rand lectured regularly, expounding upon her philosophy. Some talks at the institute included:

The Basic Principles of Objectivism
The Nature of Emotions
Social Metaphysics
The Ethics of Altruism
What is Reason?

These lectures attracted an increased following for Rand, and led to the founding of many centers around the country. She began touring the country speaking at college campuses, and the phrase "Who is John Galt" (the first line of Atlas Shrugged, and an important leitmotif) became a catch phrase for those in Objectivist circles.

Break with Nathaniel Branden

Branden, who had been an important popularizer of Rand's work, was also her lover for several years, despite both of thier marriage to other people. In 1968, Branden ended the affair, and severed his ties with the Objectivist movement (saying that he had betrayed Objectivist principles). The Nathaniel Branden Institute became the Ayn Rand Institute, while Branden became part of a later offshoot called the Atlas Society.

Rand's Personal Life

After many years of unsuccessfully attempting to contact her family in Soviet Russia, Rand was reunited with her sister Nora in 1973, a reunion which was described by Daligga as "brief and painfully disappointing."

In 1979, after a battle with dementia, Rand's husband Frank O'Conor passed away.

She underwent surgery for lung cancer in 1974, after which her activities were greatly limited. She spoke annually at Boston's Ford Hall Forum until her death in 1982.

Rand's Death and Burial

In the Spring of 1982, Rand was buried in Valhalla, NY, in a service attended by hundreds of mourners, next to a six foot floral dollar sign.

The copyright of the article The Later Years of Ayn Rand in History/Philosophy Books is owned by Jeffrey Donaldson. Permission to republish The Later Years of Ayn Rand in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.