August 28, 1966
Mr. William C. Sage
3111 Bellewood Avenue
Zone 13
Cincinnati, Ohio
Dear Mr. Sage:
Thank you for your letter of April 10.
I am pleased that you liked Atlas Shrugged and that you agree with my philosophy. I deeply appreciate your remarks on the literary aspects of my novel.
You ask whether I had a specific piece of music in mind when I described the Halley Concerto. No, I did not. My favorite composer is Rachmaninoff, but even his music does not quite fit what I had in mind for Richard Halley. As to the musical selections you mention, I must say that I do not care for Wagner (with a very few exceptions), nor for Der Rosenkavalier.
Please excuse my delay in answering your letter: I had to wait until I had time to read the interesting material which you enclosed.[*]
Cordially,
Ayn Rand
AR:dk
*Sage had included copies of material (not in the Archives) that he sent to two Ohio congressmen.