Rand, Ayn | The author's magnum opus

Rand, Ayn

Atlas Shrugged. New York: Random House, 1957

8vo. Publisher's green cloth blocked in black and gilt, tan endpapers; covers lightly discolored along top edge, rear hinge cracked, somewhat cocked. Original first state pictorial dust-jacket, priced $6.95, with 10/57 on front flap, top edge stained blue; a few small chips, lightly rubbed.

First edition, first printing; the author's self-considered magnum opus.

Rand's dystopian tale explores business, industry and productiveness and plays with the concept of what would happen if the world's "prime movers" were to cease working. When developing the character of Robert Stadler, Rand took inspiration from interviews with Robert Oppenheimer. Rand recalled a telephone conversation where the idea for the work arose: "What if I went on strike? What if all the creative minds of the world went on strike? … That would make a good novel."