Ayn Rand was an author, philosopher, and screenwriter who is best known for her novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. She was born in Russia in 1905 and immigrated to the United States in 1926. Her works are known for their promotion of individualism and laissez-faire capitalism. She was a major influence on the American libertarian movement and her books have sold millions of copies worldwide. Her four-letter surname, 'Rand, ' is the answer to the crossword puzzle.