Howard Roark is a genius architect who is resented because he creates purely for the delight of his own work and on no other terms. Just as his inspiration and mentor Henry Cameron. Henry, however, was broken by the world and left to die in poverty.

Gail Wynand, is a genius media mogul and self-made millionaire whose gained power by sacrificing his ideals to the lowest common denominator of public taste. He is now willing to sacrifice everything for Roark.

Dominique Francon, the heiress of the leading architect of the time, is hopeless about the world. Until she finds meaning of life through despair, in a quest to destroy the single object of her desire: Howard Roarke.

Will Roark be broken by the world? By Dominique? Or will he win them both over?