Night of January 16th

"On one level, NIGHT OF JANUARY 16TH is a totally gripping drama about the rise and destruction of a brilliant and ruthless man. On a deeper level, it is a superb dramatic objectification of Ayn Rand's vision of human strength and weakness. Since its original Broadway success, it has achieved vast worldwide popularity and acclaim. Now at last this important work is available for the first time in a trade paperback edition.
Ayn Rand was the author of ATLAS SHRUGGED, philosophically the most challenging best seller of its time. Her first novel, WE THE LIVING, was published in 1936. With the publication of THE FOUNTAINHEAD in 1943 she achieved a spectacular and enduring success. Miss Rand's unique philosophy, Objectivism, has gained a worldwide audience. The fundamentals of her philosophy are set forth in three nonfiction books: INTRODUCTION TO OBJECTIVIST EPISTEMOLOGY, TE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS, and CAPITALISM: THE UNKNOWN IDEAL. The magnificent statement of her artistic credo, THE ROMANTIC MANIFESTO, is available in a Signet edition.

...Interesting plot and concept; enjoyed reading. ( )

This play is a murder trial with a twist: The character's motivations and actions are presented in philosophical terms, and at the end of the trial the audience is expected to vote on the defendant's guilt or innocence, with two endings provided depending on the verdict. The audience's choice is supposed to be a reflection of their own philosophy of life. The gimmick is an interesting failure; the play itself is not one of Ayn Rand's better efforts. ( )