The Woman and the Dynamo: Isabel Paterson and the Idea of America

Novelist, columnist, cultural critic, political theorist- Isabel Paterson was one of the most extraordinary personalities of the 1930s, renowned for her incisive wit and her unique interpretation of the American experience. This is the first biography of a woman who has long been a source of rumor and legend. Readers and followers of Ayn Rand will find this book especially interesting, as Rand was Paterson's protege. Cox argues that Paterson was arguably the originator of libertarianism and a large influence on Rand's thinking and writing. From interviews, private papers, and her millions of published words, Cox weaves a narrative that brings Paterson vividly to life.

Stephen Cox is professor of literature and director of the humanities program at the University of California, San Diego.