Atlas Shrugged, a 1957 novel by Ayn Rand (1905 – 1982), was this controversial authors last and longest work of fiction, though she went on to publish many other works of nonfiction rooted in her Objectivist philosophy.
Rand used this novel to share her ideas on free enterprise, capitalism, individualism, and love (or more accurately, lust).
Though it garnered many negative and rather sarcastic reviews upon its initial publication, it also earned lasting popularity with the reading public. Like all of Rand’s works, it’s a revered work of writing among those who identify as Libertarians. Read More→
Ayn Rand (1905 – 1982) was a Russian-born American author of fiction and nonfiction known for having developed Objectivism, a philosophy that embraces laissez-faire capitalism and the pursuit of rational self-interest. This selection of quotes by Ayn Rand speak to her philosophical tenets.
Rand certainly has had (and still has) her share of both admirers and detractors, but no one denies her ability to stir controversy as a writer and thinker.
Rand’s nonfiction and her novels, especially Atlas Shrugged (1957), weaves aspects of the Objectivist philosophy into their ponderous plots. Read More→
Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867 – 1957) is best known for her Little House series of books for young readers, semi-autobiographical stories about growing up as an American pioneer. Following is a selection of comforting quotes by Laura Ingalls Wilder, reflective of the mood of her classic works.
Born in a log cabin on the edge of an area called “Big Woods” in Pepin, Wisconsin, the life she lived was eventually the basis for her classic books.
While growing up, the Ingalls family traveled by covered wagon through Kansas and Minnesota with all they owned, until finally settling in De Smet, Dakota Territory. There, they thrived on the open spaces of the prairie, farming and raising animals. Read More→
Elizabeth von Arnim went by various pen names throughout her career, perhaps explaining why her reputation wasn’t quite as cemented in her lifetime as was that of some of her contemporaries.
An incicive and witty writer, two of her novels became well-known films. The first was Mr. Skeffington (1940). Much later, The Enchanted April (1922) was adapted into the charming 1991 film Enchanted April.
Here is a review of the Americanized and significantly altered 1944 film version of Mr. Skeffington starring Bette Davis and Claude Rains. Read More→
Mary McCarthy (1912 – 1989) was an American novelist and political activist. She began her writing career as a critic, gaining respect for her observations on culture and politics.
The Group (1954) was arguably her most popular novel — it sat on the New York Times bestseller list for two years and was made into a popular film.
McCarthy’s novels and stories are part autobiography and part fiction, as she draws on her own experiences, traumas, and successes. That, along with her writing style, made her a respected talent in the writing community. It’s an honest and critical eye that inform this selection of Mary McCarthy’s quotes. Read More→
Lots of films have been made from novels by the classic women authors on this site, as you’ll see by linking to this site’s Filmography. But there are also a number of biographical films about women authors themselves, the lives they led, and the stories they told.
What is it, do you supposed, that’s so fascinating about the life of a woman who writes? The films don’t focus on the act of writing for the most part — wouldn’t that be a yawner! Rather, they pay homage to the literary legacy they left behind in the form of their wonderful stories.
Some of these films take more literary license than others when it comes to the true facts of their subjects’ lives, but many, if not all, can at least be an introduction to the author, her life, and work.
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Nightwood is the best-known of the novels of Djuna Barnes, the American-born expat who spent much of her life among the lesbian circles in 1930s Paris. Published in 1936, it has long been considered her literary masterpiece, and is still regarded as one of the most influential works of modernist fiction.
This experimental novel explores the lives and loves of five eccentric and extraordinary people, and may be the first modern novel with a transgender character.
Nightwood was edited by T.S. Eliot. Barnes, then in her mid-40s, was still overwhelmed by the breakup with her lover, Thelma Wood. The novel follows the obsessive love affair of two women, which led to Barnes being called a “lesbian evangelist.” Despite the real-life parallel, Barnes despised and denied the label. Read More→
When Peyton Place by Grace Metalious was published in 1956, critics from coast to coast found the book scandalous. The book was vilified in the press and numerous attempted banned didn’t stop Americans from buying it in droves.
Canadians weren’t as lucky — it was banned countrywide.
A blockbuster bestseller, the novel by an unknown 34-year-old captured the public imagination. The fine yet somewhat sanitized film that was brought out following year (1957) cemented Peyton Place’s spot in the cultural conversation. The term “Peyton Place” quickly became synonymous with scandal and intrigue.
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