Barbara Joan Branden (née Weidman; May 14, 1929 – December 11, 2013) was a Canadian-American writer, editor, and lecturer, known for her relationship and subsequent break with novelist-philosopher Ayn Rand.[1][2][3][4]
Born in Winnipeg, Barbara Weidman met Nathaniel Branden because of their mutual interest in Ayn Rand's works. They became personal friends of Rand in 1950,[5] and when they married in 1953, Rand and her husband, Frank O'Connor, served as the matron of honor and best man.[6][7] She earned her M.A. in philosophy, and authored a thesis on free will, under the direction of Sidney Hook at New York University.[8] Nathaniel and Barbara Branden became founding members of an Objectivist movement that sought to advance Rand's ideas.[9]
In 1954, Nathaniel Branden began a secret romantic affair with Rand with the reluctant permission of both spouses. This relationship continued for three years.[7][10][11] While their respective spouses, Barbara Branden and Frank O'Connor, had knowledge of the affair and nominally accepted it, Branden later said it led to "years of pain" and "enormous harm", describing it as a "sacrifice".[12]
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 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, written after Rand's death in 1982, caused a rift among Rand's followers because it not only stated that Rand and Nathaniel Branden had been lovers, but that Rand had broken with them when she learned of his affair with Scott.[13] Rand had previously claimed that the friendship broke up over other matters, but letters in her estate confirmed Barbara Branden's version of the cause.[13] 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 Barbara.[14]
She contributed the lead essay "Ayn Rand: The Reluctant Feminist" to the anthology Feminist Interpretations of Ayn Rand, wherein she argued that the way Rand lived her life made it a feminist manifesto, even as Rand had disagreements with feminism.[15] Barbara Branden was estranged from her cousin Leonard Peikoff, Rand's chosen intellectual and legal heir after Rand's break with Nathaniel Branden.
Barbara Branden died of a lung infection in Los Angeles on December 11, 2013.[1][3] Branden had no children.[4]
WorksEdit
Books
Branden, Barbara & Branden, Nathaniel (1964) [1962]. Who is Ayn Rand?. New York: Paperback Library. OCLC 2848682.
^ abDoherty, Brian (December 12, 2013). "Barbara Branden, RIP". Reason. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
^McLemee, Scott (September 1999). "The Heirs Of Ayn Rand: Has Objectivism Gone Subjective?". Lingua Franca. 9 (6): 45–55.
^ abWoo, Elaine (December 13, 2013). "Barbara Branden dies at 84; Ayn Rand biographer championed her subject". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
^ abVitello, Paul (December 25, 2013). "Barbara Branden, Biographer of Ayn Rand, Dies at 84". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
^Branden, Barbara (1986). The Passion of Ayn Rand. New York: Doubleday. p. 233. ISBN978-0385191715.
^Branden, Barbara (1986). The Passion of Ayn Rand. New York: Doubleday. p. 253. ISBN978-0385191715.
^ abYardley, William (December 12, 2014). "Nathaniel Branden, a Partner in Love And Business With Ayn Rand, Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
^Reedstrom, Karen (October 1992). "Interview with Barbara Branden". Full Context. 5 (2).
^Lamb, Brian (July 2, 1989). . Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
^Minto, Karen (September–October 1998). "Interview with Barbara Branden". Full Context. 11 (1).
^ abVitello, Paul (December 25, 2013). "Barbara Branden, Biographer of Ayn Rand, Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
^The Passion of Ayn Rand (1999). IMDb. Retrieved March 2, 2007.
^"Feminist Interpretations of Ayn Rand". BarbaraBranden.com. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
External linksEdit
Official website
September 28, 2023
barbara, branden, barbara, joan, branden, née, weidman, 1929, december, 2013, canadian, american, writer, editor, lecturer, known, relationship, subsequent, break, with, novelist, philosopher, rand, publicity, photo, bornbarbara, weidman, 1929, 1929winnipeg, m. Barbara Joan Branden nee Weidman May 14 1929 December 11 2013 was a Canadian American writer editor and lecturer known for her relationship and subsequent break with novelist philosopher Ayn Rand 1 2 3 4 Barbara BrandenPublicity photo of Barbara BrandenBornBarbara Weidman 1929 05 14 May 14 1929Winnipeg Manitoba CanadaDiedDecember 11 2013 2013 12 11 aged 84 Los Angeles California United StatesOccupationWriterNotable worksThe Passion of Ayn RandWho Is Ayn Rand SpouseNathaniel Branden divorced Websitewww wbr barbarabranden wbr com Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLife EditBorn in Winnipeg Barbara Weidman met Nathaniel Branden because of their mutual interest in Ayn Rand s works They became personal friends of Rand in 1950 5 and when they married in 1953 Rand and her husband Frank O Connor served as the matron of honor and best man 6 7 She earned her M A in philosophy and authored a thesis on free will under the direction of Sidney Hook at New York University 8 Nathaniel and Barbara Branden became founding members of an Objectivist movement that sought to advance Rand s ideas 9 In 1954 Nathaniel Branden began a secret romantic affair with Rand with the reluctant permission of both spouses This relationship continued for three years 7 10 11 While their respective spouses Barbara Branden and Frank O Connor had knowledge of the affair and nominally accepted it Branden later said it led to years of pain and enormous harm describing it as a sacrifice 12 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 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 written after Rand s death in 1982 caused a rift among Rand s followers because it not only stated that Rand and Nathaniel Branden had been lovers but that Rand had broken with them when she learned of his affair with Scott 13 Rand had previously claimed that the friendship broke up over other matters but letters in her estate confirmed Barbara Branden s version of the cause 13 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 Barbara 14 She contributed the lead essay Ayn Rand The Reluctant Feminist to the anthology Feminist Interpretations of Ayn Rand wherein she argued that the way Rand lived her life made it a feminist manifesto even as Rand had disagreements with feminism 15 Barbara Branden was estranged from her cousin Leonard Peikoff Rand s chosen intellectual and legal heir after Rand s break with Nathaniel Branden Barbara Branden died of a lung infection in Los Angeles on December 11 2013 1 3 Branden had no children 4 Works EditBooksBranden Barbara amp Branden Nathaniel 1964 1962 Who is Ayn Rand New York Paperback Library OCLC 2848682 Branden Barbara 1986 The Passion of Ayn Rand Garden City NY Doubleday ISBN 0385191715 Branden Barbara 2017 Think as if Your Life Depends on It Principles of Efficient Thinking and Other Lectures CreateSpace ISBN 978 1548486679 Lecture courseBranden Barbara 2007 Principles of Efficient Thinking 10 lectures Reissued on 19 CDs See also EditAtlas ShruggedReferences Edit a b Doherty Brian December 12 2013 Barbara Branden RIP Reason Retrieved December 12 2013 McLemee Scott September 1999 The Heirs Of Ayn Rand Has Objectivism Gone Subjective Lingua Franca 9 6 45 55 a b Woo Elaine December 13 2013 Barbara Branden dies at 84 Ayn Rand biographer championed her subject Los Angeles Times Retrieved April 17 2014 a b Vitello Paul December 25 2013 Barbara Branden Biographer of Ayn Rand Dies at 84 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved September 11 2021 Branden Barbara 1986 The Passion of Ayn Rand New York Doubleday p 233 ISBN 978 0385191715 Branden Barbara 1986 The Passion of Ayn Rand New York Doubleday p 253 ISBN 978 0385191715 a b Yardley William December 12 2014 Nathaniel Branden a Partner in Love And Business With Ayn Rand Dies at 84 The New York Times Retrieved December 12 2014 About Barbara Branden Britting Jeff 2004 Ayn Rand Overlook Illustrated Lives New York Overlook Duckworth p 88 ISBN 1585674060 OCLC 56413971 Reedstrom Karen October 1992 Interview with Barbara Branden Full Context 5 2 Lamb Brian July 2 1989 Nathaniel Branden Author Judgment Day My Years With Ayn Rand Archived from the original on February 14 2012 Retrieved December 25 2011 Minto Karen September October 1998 Interview with Barbara Branden Full Context 11 1 a b Vitello Paul December 25 2013 Barbara Branden Biographer of Ayn Rand Dies at 84 The New York Times Retrieved December 12 2014 The Passion of Ayn Rand 1999 IMDb Retrieved March 2 2007 Feminist Interpretations of Ayn Rand BarbaraBranden com Retrieved November 9 2017 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Barbara Branden amp oldid 1168282117, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
