Volume 11, Number 7, July 2005 New Covers for Excerpt from Essays on Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” Ayn Rand Books Impact is pleased to reprint here the Preface that were discussed but never actualized. Part from the new book Essays on Ayn Rand’s I of this collection ends with Jeff Britting’s “Anthem,” edited by Dr. Robert Mayhew. This “Anthem and ‘The Individualist Manifesto,’” excerpt indicates the topic of each essay and which compares Anthem to its “nonfiction twin is reprinted with the special permission of the brother” (in Britting’s words): Ayn Rand’s first publisher, Lexington Books. extended nonfiction es say in English, “The * * * Individualist Manifesto” (written in 1941, but uring the first never published). Dhalf of the Part II examines Anthem as a work of twentieth century, literature and as philosophy. The first chapter owing largely to of this part is Tore Boeckmann’s “Anthem as the existence of a Psychological Fantasy,” which: provides a totalitarianism detailed literary analysis of Anthem and the in Soviet Russia in tegration of its story and theme; explains why and later in Nazi Ayn Rand considered Anthem a psychological Germany, there fantasy and a poem; and compares Anthem to appeared a number another work in the genre of psychological of “anti-Utopia” fantasy, namely Ibsen’s Peer Gynt. Most com- works of fiction, continued on page 2 Dr. Robert Mayhew among the most well-known be ing Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We (1921), Aldous In the Media: Briefly Noted Huxley’s Brave New World (1932) and George Orwell’s 1984 (1949). Ayn Rand’s novella Every month ARI op-eds and letters to the Anthem (1938) is a similar work (though unique editor are published in newspapers and on the in many crucial respects); but whereas We, Internet. Here are some recent highlights. Brave New World and especially 1984 have received substantial scholarly at tention, Anthem uring May and the early part of June, ARI has not. A book-length study of Anthem is long Dop-eds and letters to the editor were pub- overdue; the present collection fills this need. lished in newspapers and magazines with a com- Anthem was written in the summer bined circulation of approximately 1.7 million. of 1937, during a break Ayn Rand took from ARI speakers were also interviewed on radio 10 writing her novel The Fountainhead. Anthem times. Here are some highlights: was first published in England in 1938, and a • Alex Epstein’s op-ed “End Social Security” revised edition appeared in the United States was published on May 7 in USA Today (the in 1946. Part I of this volume is devoted to magazine). the history of Anthem. The open ing chapter is • Elan Journo’s op-ed “Death to ‘Diplomacy’ with Shoshana Milgram’s “Anthem in Manuscript: Iran” was published on May 11 in the Record of Finding the Words,” which examines the outline Bergen County, New Jersey; two days later the and draft of the novella. The second chapter is Record published Mr. Journo’s op-ed “Betraying Richard Ralston’s “Publishing Anthem,” which the Real Freedom Fighters.” describes Ayn Rand’s struggles (especially • David Holcberg and Alex Epstein coauthored an in the United States, during America’s “Red op-ed, “The Anti-Life Opposition to Embryonic Decade”) to find a publisher. A revised edition Stem Cell Research,” that was published on apitalism: The Unknown Ideal and Philos- of Anthem was published in 1946; Ayn Rand May 20 in Education Update. Cophy: Who Needs It have been issued with made hundreds of revisions in preparing it. • Dr. Edwin Locke’s op-ed “Animals’ ‘Rights’ newly designed covers, in honor of the centen- My chapter, “Anthem: ’38 & ’46,” examines Versus Man’s Rights” was published on June 8 nial of Ayn Rand’s birth. the changes she made and offers a detailed in The Providence Journal. The new covers are intended to catch the discussion of those revisions that might appear • David Holcberg’s letter to the editor, “Oriana eye of potential readers and have the same to reveal a change in philo sophical outlook. Fallaci and Freedom of Speech,” was published design motif as the paperback centennial In the fourth chapter, “Reviews of Anthem,” on June 1 in the Washington Times; his letter editions of Miss Rand’s novels, which were Michael S. Berliner surveys dozens of the “Individual Rights” (regarding the Supreme released earlier this year. New covers for the reviews Anthem received, covering those Court’s decision on marijuana) was published in rest of Ayn Rand’s nonfiction books will soon that first appeared in England in 1938 and the Philadelphia Inquirer on June 10. be finalized. up to a recent 2002 review of an audio-book • On June 13 an article in the Orange County Since bookstores order new books after version of Anthem. Although there has been Register quoted Dr. Yaron Brook on the nomina- depleting their supply of a current edition, it a great deal of in terest in adapting Anthem tion of Christopher Cox to the position of SEC may be some months before copies of books over the years—primarily into film—there chairman. with new covers appear in your local bookstore. has unfortunately been only one adaptation. • On May 26 Dr. Gary Hull was interviewed on (You may wish to take this opportunity to pur- Jeff Britting’s “Adapting Anthem: Projects the nationally syndicated Thom Hartmann Show chase copies of editions with old covers while That Were and Might Have Been” surveys the for 30 minutes. He spoke about his new book, they are still in stock.) one realized adaptation and the many others The Abolition of Antitrust. Bookstore Lectures to Be Sold at Historic Sites everal taped lectures by Dr. John Ridpath and SDr. Eric Daniels, published by the Ayn Rand Bookstore, will soon be available for sale at the gift shop of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, in Williamsburg, Virginia. The lectures constitute a specially packaged series on U.S. history that the Bookstore is offering through a new reseller program. Another reseller in that program is the judgment on others, that one must be morally historic St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, Living a Rational Life tolerant of anything, that the good consists of where Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give never distinguishing good from evil. me liberty or give me death” speech. (Among the in an Irrational Society “It is obvious who profits and who loses by items stocked at the shop is Dr. Ridpath’s lecture Each month Impact suggests readings and other such a precept. It is not justice or equal treat- “In Dawn’s Early Light: Patrick Henry—Bea- resources for fans of Ayn Rand’s fiction who wish ment that you grant to men when you abstain con for America.”) There are plans to add more to learn more about her philosophy, Objectivism. equally from praising men’s virtues and from lectures to the U.S. history series and sign up more condemning men’s vices. When your impar- high-profile resellers. n a culture where many people believe that tial attitude declares, in effect, that neither the Iselfishness is evil and self-sacrifice is a noble good nor the evil may expect anything from ideal, where life-saving science and technol- you—whom do you betray and whom do you ogy are blocked because of religious dogma, encourage?” From the Ayn Rand Archives, where businessmen are persecuted because In her essay, Miss Rand discusses how to A Special Collection of the they out-compete rivals in creating valuable apply the principle of always pronouncing moral products—the question “How does one lead a judgment and the contexts and forms in which Ayn Rand Institute rational life in an irrational society?” remains as it is appropriate to make’s one’s evaluations relevant now as when Ayn Rand addressed it in known to others. “How Does One Lead a Ratio- Throughout 2005—the centenary of Ayn a 1962 essay. nal Life in an Irrational Society?” is reprinted Rand’s birth—Impact will showcase historic In her answer, Miss Rand confined herself in The Virtue of Selfishness. Additional essays photographs, documents and other items that to discussing one principle: “One must never that may be helpful: “What Can One Do?” and illuminate Ayn Rand’s life and achievements. fail to pronounce moral judgment.” “Don’t Let it Go” (reprinted in Philosophy: These items will also serve to give our readers She observed: “Nothing can corrupt and Who Needs It). See also: “The Cult of Moral a glimpse at some of the remarkable items on disintegrate a culture or a man’s character as Grayness” (in The Virtue of Selfishness) and deposit in the Ayn Rand Archives. thoroughly as does the precept of moral agnos- Dr. Leonard Peikoff’s course “Understanding ticism, the idea that one must never pass moral Objectivism.” Excerpt from Essays on Ayn Rand’s Primitivism” describes the connection in Anthem between the society’s totalitarianism “Anthem,” continued from page 1. and its lack of advanced technology. parisons of Anthem with other literary works This collection contains two other essays: focus on anti-utopia fiction. This is the subject an epilogue by Harry Bin swanger, “Anthem: of the next chapter, Shoshana Milgram’s An Appreciation,” which is based on a talk the “Anthem in the Context of Related Literary author gave in New York City in 1998 as part Works: ‘We are not like our brothers,’” which of a celebration of the 60th anniver sary of the con trasts Anthem with a wide range of works: publication of Anthem; and an appendix by not only We, Brave New World and 1984, but Lindsay Joseph, “Teaching Anthem: A Guide for also H.