In a glitzy hotel lobby in central St. Petersburg on Saturday, a band of young anarchists clad in black gathers around a middle-aged economics professor clutching a briefcase.
They make small talk — about the icy cold weather outside and their exams. But the real reason they’re here is Ayn Rand, the renowned and reviled advocate of unbridled capitalism and the free market. Or, as she is referred to here: “the Goddess of the Market” and “a real-live hero.”
Soon after, they cram into a nearby conference hall, where they will remain for some eight hours of uninterrupted discussion on Rand’s teachings and how they apply to present-day Russia in honor of her 114th birthday.
A star in America, forgotten in Russia
Despite the hype around the conference, Rand, who was born in St. Petersburg on Feb. 2, 1905, largely remains an obscure figure in her hometown.
There is no museum dedicated to her life in the city, no street named in her honor and no plaque proudly stating where she lived or studied.
While she is a household name in the United States, where she emigrated as a young adult and rose to become a best-selling author and conservative icon, most people in Russia admit they have never heard of her or read her work. » | Daniel Kozin | Thursday, February 14, 2019
