Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
The Fountainhead
novel by Rand
The Fountainhead, novel by Ayn Rand, published in 1943. An exposition of the author’s anticommunist philosophy of “objectivism,” The Fountainhead tells of the struggle of genius architect Howard Roark—said to be based on Frank Lloyd Wright—as he confronts conformist mediocrity.
In Rand’s world, suppression of individual creativity is the greatest evil. Roark is expelled from architectural school for his nonconformist ideas, but he pursues his vision undaunted.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Discover how ordinary objects work, and expand your understanding of the familiar.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
By clicking "Sign Up", you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.