Name the authors of each of these works: a. Atlas Shrugged, and The Fountainhead ? b. The classic, Little Women ?

The powerful and controversial novels *The Fountainhead* and *Atlas Shrugged* were penned by the Russian-American writer and philosopher Ayn Rand. Her philosophy of Objectivism, which champions individualism and rational self-interest, is central to both stories. The ideas proved so compelling and distinct that they have been a challenge for filmmakers to adapt, though not for a lack of trying. *The Fountainhead* was famously brought to the screen in a 1949 film starring Gary Cooper, with a screenplay written by Rand herself. *Atlas Shrugged* was more recently adapted into a trilogy of films released between 2011 and 2014.

On a completely different end of the literary and philosophical spectrum is Louisa May Alcott's beloved classic, *Little Women (Review)*. First published in the 1860s, the novel is a semi-autobiographical account of Alcott's life with her three sisters in Concord, Massachusetts. The story’s timeless themes of family, ambition, love, and navigating the transition from childhood to adulthood have made it one of Hollywood's most enduring and frequently revisited properties.

Unlike Rand's work, which has seen fewer adaptations, Alcott's novel has been a cinematic staple for generations. It has been adapted for the screen numerous times, with each version introducing the March sisters to a new audience. Among the most famous are the 1933 version with Katharine Hepburn, the popular 1994 film starring Winona Ryder, and the critically acclaimed 2019 version directed by Greta Gerwig, which received six Academy Award nominations.