jbgotmar

180
WHO IS JOHN GALT? 1957–1968
More oxford books @ www.OxfordeBook.com
incidentally, NBI also promised to advance Nathan’s career. He had
already begun to establish himself as a therapist on Rand’s coattails,
drawing patients primarily from those who found her work interesting.
Now he started a second business drawing on Rand’s ideas.
Nathan’s organization drew on earlier Objectivist efforts at education.
Immediately following the publication of Atlas Shrugged Rand
had conducted informal classes in fi ction writing in her apartment. The
invitation-only classes were her fi rst foray into cultural criticism. As
she taught students the basics of her style, which she called “Romantic
Realism,” Rand criticized the work of such authors as Thomas Wolfe
for writing stories without a plot or moral meaning. Just as there was
an Objectivist view on sex, there was also an Objectivist theory of literature.
These fi ction classes also formed the nucleus of a “Junior
Collective,” whose members enjoyed less frequent contact with Rand
than the original insiders. If a student showed particular promise he or
she would be invited for a one-on-one audience with Rand. From there
a friendship might blossom. Or Nathan might suggest that an aspiring
Objectivist write Rand a letter, expressing appreciation for her philosophy;
if Rand was suitably impressed a closer relationship could develop.
When Time magazine published a negative review of Atlas Shrugged,
Nathan instructed all members of the Junior Collective to cancel their
subscriptions as an exercise in living up to their principles. 24
There was also a precedent for someone other than Rand to teach the
basics of her philosophy. Before Atlas Shrugged was published, Leonard
Peikoff had given a series of lectures on Objectivism. His informal talks
attracted a few members of the Collective and Murray Rothbard’s Circle
Bastiat. But Leonard was too junior, and his status with Rand too insecure,
for him to front an organization devoted to her philosophy. It was
the charismatic and confi dent Nathaniel Branden who would become
the public face of Objectivism, second only to Rand.
Rand was initially skeptical of the entire venture. She doubted
Nathan could change the culture and worried he would be hurt trying.
But she was willing to endorse his work and lend her name in support.
She took no fi nancial stake in the organization, which would remain
Nathan’s exclusive possession. After creating a series of twenty lectures
on “Basic Principles of Objectivism,” Nathan mailed information to a
select list of area fans who had written letters to Rand. In 1958 he offered
Fore more urdu books visit www.4Urdu.com