The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand

[Quirinus]

I've heard quite a lot about Ayn Rand, so I decided to give The Fountainhead a try when I saw the book in my college library just now.

I've read about fifteen pages, and so far I've found Howard Roark to be an unpleasant, disdainful and self-important person-- basically, an insufferable a-hole. But Roark is (I think) supposed to be the protagonist of the book, and Rand herself calls Howard Roark her "vision of an ideal man". I'm puzzled. Skimming through the Wikipedia article on the book, Roark (and the book) seems to retain this attitude throughout. What gives?



Actually, I understand that Ayn Rand is something of a sacred cow in online communities.... Apologies if this rant offends anyone..