Barbara Branden
Encyclopedia
Barbara Branden is an American Objectivist writer, editor, and lecturer, known for her relationship and subsequent break with philosopher Ayn Rand
.
because of their mutual interest in Ayn Rand
's works. They became personal friends of Rand in 1950, and when they married in 1953, Rand and her husband, Frank O'Connor, served as the matron of honor and best man. Barbara and Nathaniel Branden co-wrote Who Is Ayn Rand? in 1962. Barbara Branden's essay in the book was the first biography of Rand. When it was written, Rand considered Barbara Branden to be one of the most important proponents of Objectivism
.
She served as the Executive Director of the Nathaniel Branden Institute
, and gave a series of lectures on "Principles of Efficient Thinking."
In 1954, Nathaniel Branden began a romantic affair with Rand, a relationship which continued into the mid-1960s, according to Ms. Branden's later biography of Rand. Despite Barbara Branden's knowledge and nominal acceptance of the affair at the time, she now believes that it contributed to her eventual separation from Nathaniel Branden in 1965, although he had begun an affair with a third woman by that point.
In 1968, when Rand terminated her association with Nathaniel Branden after she discovered that he had become involved with actress Patrecia Scott more than four years earlier, she likewise disassociated herself from Barbara Branden for keeping this fact from her. The details of these events remain controversial.
In 1986, Barbara Branden published another biography of Rand, The Passion of Ayn Rand. The book was made into an Emmy-award winning motion picture in 1999 starring Helen Mirren
as Rand, Eric Stoltz
as Branden and Julie Delpy
playing her.
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism....
.
Life
Barbara Weidman met Nathaniel BrandenNathaniel Branden
Nathaniel Branden, né Nathan Blumenthal , is a psychotherapist and writer best known today for his work in the psychology of self-esteem from a humanistic perspective...
because of their mutual interest in Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism....
's works. They became personal friends of Rand in 1950, and when they married in 1953, Rand and her husband, Frank O'Connor, served as the matron of honor and best man. Barbara and Nathaniel Branden co-wrote Who Is Ayn Rand? in 1962. Barbara Branden's essay in the book was the first biography of Rand. When it was written, Rand considered Barbara Branden to be one of the most important proponents of Objectivism
Objectivism (Ayn Rand)
Objectivism is a philosophy created by the Russian-American philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand . Objectivism holds that reality exists independent of consciousness, that human beings have direct contact with reality through sense perception, that one can attain objective knowledge from perception...
.
She served as the Executive Director of the Nathaniel Branden Institute
Nathaniel Branden Institute
The Nathaniel Branden Institute was an organization founded by Nathaniel Branden in 1958 to promote Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. The institute was responsible for the many Objectivist lectures and presentations across the United States of America...
, and gave a series of lectures on "Principles of Efficient Thinking."
In 1954, Nathaniel Branden began a romantic affair with Rand, a relationship which continued into the mid-1960s, according to Ms. Branden's later biography of Rand. Despite Barbara Branden's knowledge and nominal acceptance of the affair at the time, she now believes that it contributed to her eventual separation from Nathaniel Branden in 1965, although he had begun an affair with a third woman by that point.
In 1968, when Rand terminated her association with Nathaniel Branden after she discovered that he had become involved with actress Patrecia Scott more than four years earlier, she likewise disassociated herself from Barbara Branden for keeping this fact from her. The details of these events remain controversial.
In 1986, Barbara Branden published another biography of Rand, The Passion of Ayn Rand. The book was made into an Emmy-award winning motion picture in 1999 starring Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren
Dame Helen Mirren, DBE is an English actor. She has won an Academy Award for Best Actress, four SAG Awards, four BAFTAs, three Golden Globes, four Emmy Awards, and two Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Awards.-Early life and family:...
as Rand, Eric Stoltz
Eric Stoltz
Eric Hamilton Stoltz is an American actor, director and producer. He is widely known for playing the role of Rocky Dennis in the biographical drama film Mask, which earned him the nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture...
as Branden and Julie Delpy
Julie Delpy
Julie Delpy is a French-American actress, director, screenwriter, and singer-songwriter. She studied filmmaking at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and has directed, written, and acted in more than 30 films, including Europa Europa , The Voyager , Three Colors: White , Before Sunrise...
playing her.
Lecture course
- Branden, Barbara (2007). Principles of Efficient Thinking (10 lectures). Reissued on 19 CDs. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2422814.Principles_of_Efficient_Thinking
External links
- Barbara Branden.com — Barbara Branden's homepage
- User Page at Objectivist Living — an internet forum to which Barbara Branden regularly posts.