One of my favorite authors growing up was Ayn Rand.  In connection with the 50th anniversary of the publication of Atlas Shrugged, the Latin Business Chronicle asked three prominent Latin American admirers for their impressions of Rand and her books. One of the interesting insights was the power of her book and her influence based on recent translations of her works.

Has Rand’s influence and popularity grown in Latin America thanks to recent translations into Spanish of her work?

Carpio: Totally. If you look at the last 20 years, of 100 people [in Latin America] that knew of Ayn Rand, that figure has grown hundredfold today. They are young people, entrepreneurs and intellectuals.

Ibargüen: Yes! I believe Grito Sagrado from Argentina, and my friend Fredy Kofman have done a great service to the Spanish-speaking world publishing a new, and uncensored edition [of Atlas Shrugged] wonderfully edited.

Chafuen: Only recently some of the most famous books by Rand have been translated into Spanish. Atlas Shrugged, of “La Rebelión de Atlas” is one example. This is thanks to the admirable work of Rosa Pelz, in Argentina, who deserves much credit. It is rather unfortunate that these translations have come out when due to other circumstances, the enemies of freedom are on the upswing. I think her impact is yet to be felt.

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