You can help us out by revising, improving and updating "[14] Rand had made her break with Nietzsche by the time she published The Fountainhead. With some effort, Kira manages to obtain her Labor Book, which permits her to study and work. The films were directed by Goffredo Alessandrini for Scalera Films of Rome, and starred Alida Valli as Kira, Fosco Giachetti as Andrei, and Rossano Brazzi as Leo. Rand finished writing the novel in 1934, but it was rejected by several publishers before being released by Macmillan Publishing in 1936. Prior to their release, the films were nearly censored by Mussolini's government, but they were permitted because the story itself was set in Soviet Russia and was directly critical of that regime. We the Living was published in an Italian translation in 1937. Despite their political differences, she finds Andrei to be the one person with whom she could discuss her most intimate thoughts and views. They end up talking and she finds out that his name was Leo Kovalensky and that he was the son of a former admiral and counter revolutionary. We the Living is the debut novel of the Russian American novelist Ayn Rand.It is a story of life in post-revolutionary Russia and was Rand's first statement against communism.Rand observes in the foreword that We the Living was the closest she would ever come to writing an autobiography. We the Living Summary. The Russian Revolution began in 1917. This version, approved by Rand and her estate, was re-released as We the Living in 1986. "[13] According to Ronald Merrill, Kira in the first edition "adopts in the most explicit terms possible the ethical position of Friedrich Nietzsche. [31] Several years later, she was able to interest George Abbott in producing the play. [8], In 1957, Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged became a best-seller for Random House. The story takes place from 1922 to 1925, in post-revolutionary Russia. [24], When the book was released in Australia, it received several positive reviews. Associate editor Granville Hicks, then a member of the American Communist Party, was strongly opposed to publishing Rand's novel. When she announced her decision to become an engineer, her words were met with Galina and Lydia’s – her mother and sister – irritation and Alexander Dimitrievitch’s – her father – surprise. We the Living Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to Leo loses his job and he can not find another one. Her father is the former owner of a successful factory and he opens a textile store. Kira keeps her ideas and aspirations alive, but decides to go along with the system until she feels powerful enough to challenge it. Andrei is a communist and a member of the secret police but he likes Kira very much and he finds her a job. The time is the Russian Revolution. [29], Shortly after the novel was published, Rand began negotiations with Broadway producer Jerome Mayer to do a theatrical adaptation. "[11] Rand's revision deleted this sentence. She uses money from Andrei to fund Leo's treatment. Prior to their release, the films were nearly censored by Mussolini's government, but they were permitted because the story itself was set in Soviet Russia and was directly critical of that regime.