The novel focuses on the architect Howard Roark and journalist Dominique Francon, who defend the right of a creative individual to freedom—opposing a society where «equal opportunities» for everyone matter more than the individual’s talent and vision. They act together and apart: sometimes allies, sometimes rivals, but always against the current of society’s norms. As individualists, they strive to create and change the world. Through the characters’ life trials and an intriguing plot, the author reveals the core idea of the book: EGO is the driving force behind humanity’s progress.