February 21, 1950
Miss Vera Koski
354 Hutchinson Avenue
Mount Vernon, New York
Dear Miss Koski:
Thank you for your letter. I am glad that you liked THE FOUNTAINHEAD.
You ask: “Aren’t some of the character traits and ideals of Howard Roark taken from Frank Lloyd Wright’s life?” No. There is no similarity between Roark and Mr. Wright as far as personal life, character and basic philosophy are concerned. The only parallel which may be drawn between them is purely architectural—that is, in regard to their stand on modern architecture.[*]
I am enclosing two printed letters which might interest you.
Sincerely,
Ayn Rand
AR:je
*For any analysis of this issue, see “Howard Roark and Frank Lloyd Wright” by Michael Berliner in Essays on Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead,” ed. Robert Mayhew (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2007).
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