Meet Ayn RandMeet Ayn Rand Born in St. Petersburg, Born in St. Petersburg,

Russia on February 2, Russia on February 2, 19051905

Taught herself to read at Taught herself to read at age sixage six

By age nine, had decided By age nine, had decided to become a writerto become a writer

44thth Period Period

Retrieve your Retrieve your graded graded The Maze The Maze RunnerRunner project project from the blue from the blue basket on my basket on my chair.chair.

AynAyn

During her high During her high school years, she was school years, she was eyewitness to the eyewitness to the Kerensky Revolution, Kerensky Revolution, which she supported which she supported

1917 brought the 1917 brought the Bolshevik Revolution, Bolshevik Revolution, which she denounced which she denounced

Why is this important?Why is this important?

Understanding the life experiences of Ayn Understanding the life experiences of Ayn Rand will give us insight into her novel, Rand will give us insight into her novel, AnthemAnthem..

AnthemAnthem raises questions about what a raises questions about what a society should be.society should be.

If we have a clear picture of the society in If we have a clear picture of the society in which Ayn Rand lived, we will be equipped which Ayn Rand lived, we will be equipped to find the themes of the novel.to find the themes of the novel.

Back to BiographyBack to Biography In order to escape the In order to escape the

fighting, her family fighting, her family went to the Crimea, went to the Crimea, where she finished where she finished high school. high school.

The final Communist The final Communist victory brought the victory brought the confiscation of her confiscation of her father's pharmacy father's pharmacy and periods of near-and periods of near-starvation. starvation.

Ayn and AmericaAyn and America

When introduced to American history in her last When introduced to American history in her last year of high school, she immediately took year of high school, she immediately took America as her model of what a nation of free America as her model of what a nation of free men could be. men could be.

In late 1925 she obtained permission to leave In late 1925 she obtained permission to leave Soviet Russia for a visit to relatives in the United Soviet Russia for a visit to relatives in the United States. Although she told Soviet authorities that States. Although she told Soviet authorities that her visit would be short, she was determined her visit would be short, she was determined never to return to Russia. never to return to Russia.

Coming to AmericaComing to America She arrived in New She arrived in New

York City in February York City in February 1926. She spent the 1926. She spent the next six months with next six months with her relatives in her relatives in Chicago, obtained an Chicago, obtained an extension to her visa, extension to her visa, and then left for and then left for Hollywood to pursue Hollywood to pursue a career as a a career as a screenwriter. screenwriter.

HollywoodHollywood On Ayn Rand's second On Ayn Rand's second

day in Hollywood, Cecil day in Hollywood, Cecil B. DeMille saw her B. DeMille saw her standing at the gate of his standing at the gate of his studio, offered her a ride studio, offered her a ride to the set of his movie to the set of his movie and gave her a job, first and gave her a job, first as an extra, then as a as an extra, then as a script reader. During the script reader. During the next week at the studio, next week at the studio, she met an actor, Frank she met an actor, Frank O'Connor, whom she O'Connor, whom she married in 1929; they married in 1929; they were married until his were married until his death fifty years later. death fifty years later.

TimelineTimeline 1931 - Becomes U.S. citizen (March 13)1931 - Becomes U.S. citizen (March 13)

1932 - Sells "Red Pawn" to Universal Pictures 1932 - Sells "Red Pawn" to Universal Pictures (September 2)(September 2)

1934 - Makes first entry in philosophic journal 1934 - Makes first entry in philosophic journal (April 9)(April 9)Writes Writes IdealIdealFirst play, First play, Woman on TrialWoman on Trial, opens in Hollywood , opens in Hollywood (October 22)(October 22)Moves to New York City (November)Moves to New York City (November)

TimelineTimeline 1935 - 1935 - Night of January 16thNight of January 16th (formerly (formerly Woman Woman

on Trialon Trial) opens on Broadway (September 16)) opens on Broadway (September 16)Makes first notes for Makes first notes for The FountainheadThe Fountainhead (December 4)(December 4)

1936 - 1936 - We the LivingWe the Living published (April 18) published (April 18) 1938 - 1938 - AnthemAnthem published, England (circa May 7) published, England (circa May 7) 1939 - Receives last communication from 1939 - Receives last communication from

parents in USSR (circa January)parents in USSR (circa January)

1940 - 19821940 - 1982

The FountainheadThe FountainheadAtlas ShruggedAtlas Shruggedcampus talkscampus talksThe Objectivist NewsletterThe Objectivist Newsletter teaches nonfiction writing courseteaches nonfiction writing course television appearancestelevision appearancesmany more accomplishmentsmany more accomplishments

Ayn randAyn rand

Ayn Rand died in Ayn Rand died in New York City, on New York City, on March 6, 1982.March 6, 1982.

Source:Source:

www.aynrand.org

so, now what?so, now what?

anthemanthem