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by Barbara Branden

Barbara Branden Arts and Literature English

ISBN: 038524388X
Author: Barbara Branden
Publisher: Anchor; Revised ed. edition (September 18, 1987)
Language: English
Pages: 442
ePub: 1502 kb
Fb2: 1681 kb
Rating: 4.3
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Category: Biography
Subcategory: Arts and Literature

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The Passion of Ayn Rand is a biography of Ayn Rand by writer and lecturer Barbara Branden, a former friend and business associate.

The Passion of Ayn Rand is a biography of Ayn Rand by writer and lecturer Barbara Branden, a former friend and business associate. Published by Doubleday in 1986, it was the first full-length biography of Rand and the basis for the 1999 film of the same name starring Helen Mirren as Rand. Branden was a close associate of Rand's for 18 years

Barbara Branden was associated with Ayn Rand from 1950-1968 when she and her husband (Nathaniel Branden) had their epic split with Rand. In fact, in 2009 two biographies were published which largely confirm the accuracy of Branden's biography while making occasional corrections to the historical record. For example, it repeats the story (now known to be false) that Rand took her name from a Remington Rand typewriter.

The life of Ayn Rand was the material of fiction. But if one attempted to write it as a novel, the result would be preposterously unbelievable. I was attending UCLA with my friend and later my husband, Nathaniel Branden. Everything about her life and her person was of an epic scale. I was majoring in philosophy, he in psychology. We both had read The Fountainhead - and then We the Living and Anthem, Ayn Rand's two earlier novels - and we deeply admired and were influenced by her work.

Author Barbara Branden, who knew Rand for nineteen years, provides a matchless portrait of this fiercely . I don't usually read biographies, but having read some of Ayn Rand's books I was very interested in what made her tick

Author Barbara Branden, who knew Rand for nineteen years, provides a matchless portrait of this fiercely private and complex woman. I don't usually read biographies, but having read some of Ayn Rand's books I was very interested in what made her tick. There is much controversy that gets generated whenever her name is mentioned so I wanted to know more. The Passion of Ayn Rand was a surprising insightful and thoughtful book on the life and times of Ayn Rand.

Still less is known about the woman who was Ayn Rand. Her public and professional activities took place on a lighted stage; her private life was lived backstage, curtained from view. I first met Ayn Rand in 1950.

The Passion of Ayn Rand (original title). Alfred Tells Nathaniel about the new book Ayn Rand is working on, "Atlas Shrugged". The working title for that book was "The Strike". 1h 44min Biography, Drama, Romance TV Movie 27 January 1999. Upon the death of Ayn Rand (Dame Helen Mirren), Barbara Branden (Julie Delpy) recounts the story of her dealings with the enigmatic twentieth century philosopher and author. Barbara and her husband, Nathaniel Branden (Eric Stoltz), meet Rand and her husband, Frank O'Connor (Peter Fonda) and immediately establish a rapport.

by. Branden, Barbara.

movies All video latest This Just In Prelinger Archives Democracy Now! Occupy Wall Street TV NSA Clip Library. by. Rand, Ayn, Women and literature, Novelists, American, Philosophers, Objectivism (Philosophy).

Branden’s biography, The Passion of Ayn Rand, published in 1986, four years after Ms. Rand’s death at 77, was a generally admiring portrait. Baring details of a famously guarded émigré’s life, it recounted Ms. Rand’s affluent childhood in Russia, her family’s penury after the Bolshevik Revolution, her self-assurance from an early age about her own greatness, and one revelation that was a bombshell. Ultimately the Ayn Rand Institute, established in 1985 by the Rand estate to promote her ideas, split in two.

Barbara Branden was a personal friend of Ayn Rand from 1950 to 1968 and wrote the only authorized biographical essay about her, Who Is Ayn Rand? To write this book Branden drew from over 40 hours of taped interviews with Rand and interviewed more than two hundred other people, including Rand’s sister, aunt and cousins, in-laws, associates from her days in Hollywood, and early conservative and libertarian friends.

This bestselling biography of one of the 20th century's most remarkable and controversial writers is now available in paperback. Author Barbara Branden, who knew Rand for nineteen years, provides a matchless portrait of this fiercely private and complex woman.

Comments: (7)

Legionstatic

Interesting to get this history of a period I lived through, with many people I knew and still know.
It's pretty accurate for many events.
The idea that Rand's ideas are based on things that happened in her childhood is simplistic. My parents and I agree with almost all of her philosophy yet we lived the best kind of life in America. For instance, there's no reason to think her love of capitalism was based on her reaction to her father losing his business in the Russian revolution.

Anyshoun

Barbara Branden was associated with Ayn Rand from 1950-1968 when she and her husband (Nathaniel Branden) had their epic split with Rand.

This biography/memoir came out in 1986. Generally speaking, it's quite good. In fact, in 2009 two biographies were published which largely confirm the accuracy of Branden's biography while making occasional corrections to the historical record.

Although the book has a new introduction, the text appears to be the same as 1986 edition. For example, it repeats the story (now known to be false) that Rand took her name from a Remington Rand typewriter.

Kakashkaliandiia

The author, who was once a follower (on both a personal and intellectual level) of Ms. Rand, provides a unique perspective on the elusive, vaguely toxic exotic flower that was Ms. Rand. While I wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Rand's stand on capitalism versus socialism, I never understood her "moral imperative" - i.e., why someone "hedonistic" and "self centered" should necessarily be moral at all. The Medici's could probably be considered something like capitalists, but they CERTAINLY weren't moral. It seems that Ms. Rand suffered similar confusion on a personal level, as this work documents. We all have contradictions and flaws, and Ms. Branden reveals many of Ms. Rand's in this book. But it must also be said that Rand is discussed in a very objective, fair and even handed manner, despite the fact that the author probably wanted to strangle Ms. Rand - at least at one time. Very interesting and informative. There is no malice, and what could have devolved into a personal rant is in fact very fair and impartial. Well done!

Truthcliff

Barbara Branden deserves all the credit for coming up with a masterly work on Ayn Rand. Clear and highly readable. To achieve such balance when she had known Ayn Rand so intimately and more so when her own marriage was affected by the life she set out to narrate is remarkable.

Lestony

I enjoyed the insights gained by reading Barbara Branden's insights into Ayn Rand. Having insights into this great Author's personality and failings serves to temper my proclivity to hero worship and strengthens my ability to objectively assess the ideas of Ayn Rand and understand the possible origins of the inconsistencies in the views she held.

Uthergo

"The Passion of Ayn Rand" was to me like a drink of fresh water for a man stranded in the desert: this book provided me with the very first insight into the life of Ayn Rand as a "human being," rather than merely her public image as a professional writer and philosopher.

This biography of Rand provided the first detailed account of Rand's personal life to be published. For that alone, I am grateful. This book did not disillusion me, but it served as a ''grounding" device to remind me that the reality in which she and I live are NOT the "ideal reality" which she projected in her fiction. Her ideal reality is one toward which we may aspire, but not necessarily expect to encounter everyday.

I can't prove how "accurate" Branden's memories are of her conversations with Rand, but it is infinitely inspiring to me that Rand accomplished so much when she had so many alleged imperfections. If the criticisms in this book of Rand are accurate, then the enormity of her philosophical accomplishments are not diminished, but are all the more profound and admirable.

The form of the book begins with the appearance of a factual biography, which blends into a "fiction-like" narrative based on Branden's conversations with Rand, interspersed with "tape-recorded" conversations held with Rand and others, then metamorphosed into a poetic eulogy of Rand. Although Branden's "interpretations" of Rand are questionable, Ms. Branden seems neither sufficiently intelligent nor creative, to "fabricate" this kind of stuff. For that reason alone, her story rings "fuzzily" true. I say "fuzzily," because she is remembering events in the way which is the "least unflattering" toward herself.

After reading "The Passion of Ayn Rand" I had a greater hope. Ayn Rand was imperfect but overcame immeasurable odds. Perhaps I might do the same. The possibility of happiness, and the moral right to "freedom-of-action" were all that Rand ever offered in her philosophy of Objectivism. Rand was a realist and offered no guarantees of happiness. She only offered possibilities based upon reality and human choices in response to that reality.

To anyone who understands the enormity of Rand's philosophical ingenuity, and the complexity and subtlety of her system, the flaws of Branden's book are neither surprising nor upsetting; it would be surprising indeed if a genius like Rand were NOT misunderstood, especially by those closest to her. Nonetheless, this book is (or should be) a treasured possession for all Objectivists who admire Rand's heroism within the full context of her humanity. For non-Objectivists, this biography is at least an inspiring testament to human willpower, and the ability to overcome formidable obstacles in the accomplishment of one's dreams.

In "The Passion of Ayn Rand," Branden criticizes Rand's philosophy in the same manner that Rand criticized Thomas Woolf (Branden's favorite author), without recognizing the irony of her actions. Branden seems not to realize that her harsh criticisms of Rand is to Objectivists, what Rand's harsh criticism of Woolf was to Branden herself. But Rand is the superior writer, and Objectivists have the more valid defense.

I think Ms. Branden agrees with me when she says "...How fitting it would be if the legends of Valhalla were true. Ayn would travel to the paradise of the brave, the paradise assigned to heroes slain in battle":

That our heroes, philosophical or otherwise, are born from the same flesh-and-blood as the rest of us, does not detract from their heroism, but renders such heroism all the more memorable, powerful and sacred.

Xisyaco

This book is extraordinarily written and full of great drama. They really should consider a hollywood film on this book. Loved it!

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