Changes

Henry Rearden's family life was not nearly as happy as his business life. His wife was a member of the [[New York City]] "social set," which in the [[alternate history]] of the novel had become highly politically [[liberal]]. (In real life it is probably associated with the magazine known as ''The New Yorker''.) Henry met her after Rearden Steel had become a near-overnight success, and he found himself in New York with a lot of money to spend and a lot of "idle rich" people suddenly wanting to hang on to him. Lillian Rearden was one of them. He married her because she seemed to take an abiding interest in him and his mills. He would later learn that she intended to destroy both.

Henry Rearden's family life was not nearly as happy as his business life. His wife was a member of the [[New York City]] "social set," which in the [[alternate history]] of the novel had become highly politically [[liberal]]. (In real life it is probably associated with the magazine known as ''The New Yorker''.) Henry met her after Rearden Steel had become a near-overnight success, and he found himself in New York with a lot of money to spend and a lot of "idle rich" people suddenly wanting to hang on to him. Lillian Rearden was one of them. He married her because she seemed to take an abiding interest in him and his mills. He would later learn that she intended to destroy both.

Henry had a brother, Philip, who had a number of liberal friends who were very much enamored of what in the novel might be called the "People's State movement" (probably the [[Communist]] movement). Neither person showed him any real consideration or appreciation. Henry Rearden's mother lived in his house, but apparently she did not show him much appreciation either.

Henry had a brother, Philip, who had a number of liberal friends who were very much enamored of what in the novel might be called the "People's State movement" (probably the [[Communist]] movement). Neither person showed him any real consideration or appreciation. Rearden's mother lived in his house, but constantly attacked his dedication to his work and by extension his moral values.

The first illustration of Henry Rearden's troubled home life occurred on the day that his workforce poured the first heat of Rearden Metal. That his wife and family would not have known that this was coming seems incredible. Yet when he returned home, his family criticized him for not remembering his wedding anniversary. In fact, he ''had'' remembered his anniversary, because he had ordered a chain-link [[bracelet]] of Rearden Metal made from that first heat that his workers poured that day. Lillian showed little appreciation even for that present, and said of it, {{cquote|How appropriate: a chain, by which he keeps us all in bondage.}}

The first illustration of Henry Rearden's troubled home life occurred on the day that his workforce poured the first heat of Rearden Metal. That his wife and family would not have known that this was coming seems incredible. Yet when he returned home, his family criticized him for not remembering his wedding anniversary. In fact, he ''had'' remembered his anniversary, because he had ordered a chain-link [[bracelet]] of Rearden Metal made from that first heat that his workers poured that day. Lillian showed little appreciation even for that present, and said of it, {{cquote|How appropriate: a chain, by which he keeps us all in bondage.}}