The Literature Book

BREAKING WITH TRADITION

THE FOUNTAINHEAD

(1943), AYN RAND

A study of the triumph of individual

artistic vision when confronted by

traditionalist pressures to conform,

The Fountainhead by Russian-born

American author Ayn Rand (1905–

82) tells the story of a Modernist

architect, thought to have been

based on Frank Lloyd Wright. The

novel combines uncompromising

ethical individualism (in its subject

matter) with romantic realism (in

its treatment). More than seven

years in writing, it became a

rallying cry for the right-wing,

anticommunist philosophy of

objectivism—a movement that

Rand herself founded—which was

based on reason, freedom, and

personal talent and achievement.

FICCIONES

(1944), JORGE LUIS BORGES

An enigmatic short-story collection,

Ficciones reveals Borges’ ability to

draw the reader into his fantastical,

complex imagination with stories

that are as enchanting as fairy tales.

The 17 pieces are exuberant, yet

finely controlled. The prose has

jewel-like precision, while the

characteristic tone is one of profound

metaphysical anxiety. The first story

revolves around an encyclopedia

entry for a country that cannot be

located. Other stories tell of the

reviewing of a nonexistent book

that in the process brings it into

being, an ancient society ruled

by chance, the infinite Library of

Babel, and a person with perfect

memory. Certain symbols that are

used in the book—particularly the

mirror and the labyrinth—later

become Borges’ trademarks.

ANIMAL FARM

(1945), GEORGE ORWELL

Animal Farm shows that satirical

allegory can be as effective as

realism in revealing the evils of

totalitarianism. English author

Orwell (see p.252) uses a tale of

talking animals to dramatize the

communist politics of the Russian

Revolution and Stalinism. The

human owners of the farm are

ousted in a coup orchestrated by

the pigs, Napoleon and Snowball.

Initial idealism falls prey to “human”

weakness, and hypocrisy sets in.

Entertaining yet chilling, this is

one of the most influential political

books of the 20th century.

director, and playwright Bertolt

Brecht (1898–1956). By presenting

the central figure, Mother Courage,

without sentimentality, Brecht

focuses his audience’s attention

on issues and broad themes,

discouraging any identification

with character. The play shows his

trademark “estrangement effect,”

drawing attention to theatrical

artifice through placard captions,

bright lighting, and other effects.

THE OUTSIDER

(1942), ALBERT CAMUS

French author, journalist, and

philosopher Albert Camus (1913–

60) denied that The Outsider is an

“existentialist” novel, although its

plot is saturated in the bleakness

associated with this philosophy.

In the book, a French Algerian,

unmoved by his mother’s funeral,

later unfeelingly shoots dead an

Arab—someone he has never met.

Convicted and imprisoned, he

appears to be indifferent to his

deprivations. However, the incident

does awaken some self-awareness.

The story, told from his viewpoint,

is an example of the literature of the

“absurd,” focusing on our attempt

to find meaning where none exists.

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Jorge Luis Borges

The Argentinian writer Borges,

known for his intellectually

intriguing stories, is a major

figure of Spanish-language

literature. Born in Buenos

Aires in 1899, as a teenager

he traveled with his family to

Europe, and studied French

and German in Geneva. He

returned to Argentina in 1921.

In 1955 he became director of

the national library and

professor of English literature

in Buenos Aires. He went blind

at 55 but never learned Braille,

which may have been a factor

in his vivid symbolism. In

addition to fiction he wrote

poetry and essays. He died in

Geneva in 1986.

Key works

1935 A Universal History of

Infamy

1944 Ficciones (see left)

1967 Book of Imaginary Beings

My mother died today.

Or maybe yesterday,

I don’t know.

The Outsider

Albert Camus

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