Posted by David Bernstein: Ayn Rand Tidbit: http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2009_09_13-2009_09_19.shtml#1252893186
I'm reading a review copy of Anne Heller's forthcoming biography of Ayn Rand, which so far appears to be meticulously research and fairminded. One tidbit I'll share with Rand-watchers: Heller surmises that the the most likely source for Rand's adopted first name (Rand was born Alice Rosenbaum in Russia, Ayn Rand was the name she adopted in the U.S.) is the Hebrew word "Ayin." Rand's father apparently had a Russian/Hebrew/Yiddish pet name for her which started with "Ayin" and meant "bright eyes." And everyone who met Rand remarks that the first think you noticed about her is her eyes, so it makes sense. _______________________________________________ Volokh mailing list Volokh@lists.powerblogs.com http://lists.powerblogs.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volokh
