Freedom’s Furies: How Isabel Paterson, Rose Wilder Lane, and Ayn Rand Found Liberty in an Age of Darkness

by Timothy Sandefur

In 1943, three books appeared that changed American politics forever: Isabel Paterson's The God of the Machine , Rose Wilder Lane's The Discovery of Freedom , and Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead . Together, they laid the groundwork for what became the modern libertarian movement. Even more striking were the women behind these books: Paterson, a brilliant but misanthropic journalist whose weekly column made her one of the nation's most important literary critics; Lane, a restless writer who secretly coauthored the Little House on the Prairie novels with her mother; and Rand, a philosophically inclined Russian immigrant ferociously devoted to heroic individualism. Working against the backdrop of changes in literature and politics, they joined forces to rally the nation to the principles of freedom that had come under attack at home and abroad. Sometimes friends, at other times bitterly estranged, they became known as “the three furies of libertarianism.” Now, for the first time, author Timothy Sandefur examines their lives, ideas, and influences in the context of their times. Not a biography, but a story about personalities and ideas―about the literary, political, and cultural influences that shaped the destiny of freedom in America― Freedom's Furies tells the dramatic story of three writers who strove to keep liberty alive in an age of darkness.

Genres: History, Biography, Politics

652 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished writing my own history of libertarian thought, and in the course of doing so I read a good deal of Rand, Patterson, and Lane's work. Even still, I learned an awful lot from Sandefur's book. It's full of wonderful stories from their lives and detailed accounts of their work. And I was especially impressed and edified by Sandefur's ability to situate these three authors within the broader literary context of their time. As someone who approached their writings from the discipline of philosophy, that literary perspective helped me to understand their lives and ideas in a way I hadn't before.
My only criticism of the book is that it errs on the side of being too uncritical of its subjects' ideas. In some ways, this is a helpful corrective to the great bulk of existing scholarship on these figures, most of which is unfairly critical. But Sandefur approaches his subjects from a *very* sympathetic perspective, and seems reluctant to endorse or even to note the more problematic aspects of their lives and ideas. This is especially true in the case of Rand, who is treated *extremely* gently in this book. But again, this is a minor flaw, especially given how many other significantly more critical studies of these figures exist. It's an informative, and a quite enjoyable read.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. Sandefur does a masterful job of explaining the importance of these three remarkable women: Isabel Patterson, Rose Wilder Lane, and Ayn Rand. He takes their ideas seriously, pulls no punches but is also exceedingly fair and charitable in his accounting of their ideas, works, and personalities.

I knew vaguely that Patterson, Lane, and Rand knew each other, but I had no inkling of the depth of the connections between them: personal connections as well intellectual and ideological. All three wrote important and influential works in the mid-20th century. Though Rand is likely best-known today, Patterson and Lane were important voices for (economic, intellectual, and personal) liberty and freedom in a time when then were few such voices. Patterson is best known today for God of the Machine and her decade’s long column at the New York Herald Tribune; and Lane for her work The Discovery of Freedom: Man's Struggle Against Authority and the Little House series she wrote with her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Though the three had important differences, together they provided a robust vision and defense of moral individualism and human freedom.

One of the most surprising things I learned is the role Sinclair Lewis played in the development of the work of all three writers. Sandefur explores how Lewis’ novels, as well as other works that formed what is called the “Revolt from the Village” literary movement provided by the inspiration and the foil for the novels of Patterson, Lane, and Rand. This movement challenged the conformity and oppressiveness of small town life, and arguably culminated in Lewis’ Main Street. Sandefur persuasively argues that Patterson, Lane, and Rand shared the concerns that works of the revolt focused on, but that they offered more optimistic and positive ways beyond what Lewis called the “village virus."

Sandefur’s book is a bit hard to categorize: it’s part biography, part literary criticism/analysis, part political history, and part intellectual history. How ever you categorize it, it’s a remarkable achievement and anyone with any interest in American history of the 20th century or the history of intellectual ideas should read this book. It should be a touchstone for any scholar thinking about the ideas of Patterson, Lane, or Rand.

[Drtaxsacto · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** is not enough for this book. The furies is really a couple of books in one. First, it sets the context for the writings of three major forces in libertarian thought. So you learn a lot about Sinclair Lewis and H.L. Mencken and FDR and a host of other major figures in the period between about the twenties and the seventies. Third, it paints an interesting picture of how these three very thoughtful but contentious thinkers got along with themselves and others (hint - none of them always played nicely with each other!).

The development of individualist thought owes a lot to all three. They each made significant contributions to this branch of philosophy through their own writings both books and columns (and in Rand's case movies). They also were masters of pithy remarks - the humanitarian with a guillotine is how one described socialism. Another described a right as a sanction for independent action; permissions can be withdrawn. Sandefur also deals with the criticisms of their work including the outrageous biography of Rose Wilder Lane's mother (co-author of the Little House series) which describes Lane in over the top language.

This is a remarkable work which anyone who is interested in the development of libertarian thought should put at the top of their list. But even if you are not inclined to that range of thinking this is a superb discussion of the intellectual forces and counter-forces of the middle part of the twentieth century.

[Richelle Moral Government · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a libertarian woman who’s read 2 of these 3 women, I was endlessly fascinated by them and their relationships with one another. I am often shamed for being too disagreeable, but I will forgive myself because if I were otherwise I wouldn’t be me and I wouldn’t be like them. Though I do want to lean more to Rose’s side than Isabel’s. I do have children so someone will be obligated to give me a grave marker. I am not yet published, but give me time and I’m sure I will be. I hope no one goes poking around in my old text messages when I’m dead! But I’m glad these letters were saved so we can get all the juicy details of their drama. I read this book within 24 hours. Some nice light reading between political tomes. I love the old school libertarian gossip, who called who a communist and why? And not only did I learn about the personal squabbles between them, but a deep and satisfying exploration of the intellectual arguments that divided them. To be a fly on the wall during their all night discussions! But this book is the next best thing. The author lovingly pieces together what they must have talked about from the letters that have been saved. I appreciate the personal and the intellectual and how they affected each other as they were so passionate about their philosophies they could never truly be close with anyone who disagreed with them, even in the slightest. And it also goes to show that you don’t have to be a perfect person to be a great intellectual who influenced the course of human events. I will definitely be re-reading this book as I’m sure I will glean more insights because it’s so tightly packed and fast moving.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a very good read, and it helps fill an important gap as well. As with all biography or other subject study, it sometimes feels like it borders on hagiography. Sandefur no doubt agrees with the basic viewpoints of his subjects. But he does a nice job of bringing in people and points of view from the timeline of these women's lives that were contrasting, which not only helps the reader understand the context of their lives and their work better, but ensures the reader walks away knowing that the viewpoints of Paterson, Lane, and Rand had real competition in the minds of their contemporaries.
Sandefur's writing style is good, though this is not quite an irresistible page-turner. He basically proceeds chronologically, and since the three women had somewhat staggered lifespans, he jumps between their stories some, although they become interconnected at points too. The timeline at the end is helpful if anyone has trouble following the basic sequence of events. While Sandefur mostly lets his subjects speak to the reader in their own voices, sometimes he summarizes things in his own a bit too much. Given how powerfully articulate his subjects were, he probably did not need to do so to the extent that he did.
Because his subjects and their point of view was very counterculture then, and remains so today, they are deliberately neglected by other writers, publishing houses, and the educational system, but they were bold, strong, intelligent, and articulate pioneers and they deserve to be known and heard, which is perhaps Sandefur's greatest contribution of keeping them in our present tense. A very good read overall.

[Liberté · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book to review for an academic journal, and I really enjoyed it. My review here is briefer than I would normally write as the full review (with a link) is forthcoming. The book is a combined economic and literary history - more of a portrait of the times than a biography - and includes many details about Paterson and Lane that were new to me. I had read the Little House series as a kid but was less familiar with Lane's personal history, including her initial attraction to socialism and her very-definitely queer relationship with Dorothy Thompson (Sandefur acknowledges the possibility but points out there isn't any definitive evidence; while I respect that, as a queer woman: the vibes are correct). Paterson was a towering figure and I really want to read a collection of all her "Turns with a Bookworm" columns over the years. I was more familiar with Rand's personal details, but the relationship between the three women is the true and most interesting focus of the book, and Sandefur does a nice job balancing the literary background with the economic, political, and social issues as context.

[Jon Webber]

Thoughtful, wonderful, Academic - tags are women leaders, Liberty, Individualism, Economics, history, literature studies, New Deal myths, frontier, small town, socialism, communism, fascism, freedom. Russia, Albania, Canadian, midwest. FDR (4 terms). detailed researched & very interesting.
a Must read for a business major, an econ major, an American literature or women's lit major.
These three women were furious defenders of individual freedom when it was on the brink, during the Great depression and the US governments responsive power garb compared to Russia and Germany's response to same period. Wow. long thick, documented read. This author loves literature!

[JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabel Paterson, Rose Wilder Lane and Ayn Rand were leading thinkers during a period when liberty was tested and shaped. Their stories intertwined, as did their writing and their relationships. Freedom's Furies shares their stories, how they reinforced each other and how their firm beliefs ultimately led to falling out with each other. In course, Sandefur conveys some of the most important principles underlying concepts like positive and negative rights, systems of government, and the connection between economics and ethics.

[Angel Walker-Werth · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Sandefur's characteristically brilliant style, he explores in-depth the relationships of his three subjects, including the context - both their individual lives and careers, and the literary and historical context in which they lived and worked. It's well-researched and well-integrated; just as I started to feel there's been a lot of detail, he pulled it together and I could see why he'd been sharing those details. A great read for those interested in Rand, Lane, Paterson, the New Deal, and/or the American libertarian movement

[Russel Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reasonably nuanced look at three of the early critics of the New Deal who became leading lights in the birth of postwar libertarianism. All of the usual vices of libertarianism, the antipathy to nuance and the default to label even a tepid dissenter a statist or a communist. It shined more as a demonstration of how coercive New Deal policies really were, but it suffered from the flaws attendant in most libertarian works, especially the dogmatism and the petty feuds.

[Jennifer Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scholarly

A fantastic historical overview of the lives of three influential thinkers who struggled against "every form of tyranny over the mind of man".