The first project that Howard Roark works on as an independent architect is a house for Austen Heller, a wealthy activist. Heller, like Roark, values independence, and he also shares Roark’s design aesthetics. After the Heller house is built, most people find it atrociously nontraditional and stop to stare and laugh when they pass by it. Heller isn’t bothered by these things, and completely loves his house. He remains a faithful friend to Roark, and he constantly tries to get Roark more commissions and comes to Roark’s defense when he is attacked in the papers. As an activist, Heller preaches independent thinking—as opposed to Toohey, who praises collective thinking and work.
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Austen Heller Character Timeline in The Fountainhead
The timeline below shows where the character Austen Heller appears in The Fountainhead. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1: Chapter 9
Together, Keating and Catherine listen to a suave and cultured activist named Austen Heller speak. He talks in an unemotional way about how the state must have only minimal...
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Part 1: Chapter 10
...designers that they have a project that could potentially bring them a lot of honor—Austen Heller is looking for architects to design his house, and he was unhappy with the work...
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Snyte takes his designers to Connecticut to show them Heller’s site—a rocky cliff over the sea. While the other designers start drawing as soon as...
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When Heller sees the drawing Snyte shows him, he says it is close to what he has...
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Part 1: Chapter 11
Austen Heller is a little astonished as he observes his house being constructed. He finds he often...
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Roark describes Heller’s house as a house “made by its own needs.” While other buildings are built to...
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...drive by the house stop, stare, and giggle at it. Gas station attendants laugh when Heller drives by, and even his cook is mocked when she goes to buy groceries. Keating...
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Part 1: Chapter 13
Jimmy Gowan approaches Roark to build his filling station because he likes the Heller house. He has worked very hard for 15 years, saving for a business of his...
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This is Roark’s last commission for months. Heller asks him if he’s worried but Roark says he’s not—he’s just waiting for his “kind...
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Mrs. Wayne Wilmot is a fan of Austen Heller’s and approaches Roark in February, saying she wants him to be her architect because he...
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In March, Heller sends Roark a man named Robert L. Mundy, who wants to build a house in...
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...He says he isn’t sold on Roark and is meeting him only because his friend Heller insisted. He asks Roark to convince him to hire him, and Roark argues against superfluous...
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...that Roark is the man for the job. He has seen Gowan’s Service Station and Heller’s house and is very impressed, and he trusts Roark completely. Roark finally has work again.
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Part 1: Chapter 15
...Roark money, but Roark says that he will end their friendship if either he or Heller offer him money again. Roark says he will work and save money and return, or...
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Part 2: Chapter 6
...has hired him, but he needs some time before he makes his final decision. Later, Heller asks Roark to go with him to a party Kiki Holcombe is hosting because Sutton...
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When Heller and Roark walk in, Kiki Holcombe welcomes them while deciding that she doesn’t like Roark’s...
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Part 2: Chapter 8
...are talking about Dominique’s hatred for Roark, and it pleases her to hear this. Austen Heller, who used to be Dominique’s friend, is angry with her and says he used to...
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Part 2: Chapter 12
...and even refuses to hire a lawyer for the trial, explaining to a furious Austen Heller that he cannot compromise and do things “their” way, in the way of the world.
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Part 4: Chapter 1
...the world. In the scandal that follows, Roark becomes suddenly famous in art circles. Austen Heller writes a passionate defense of him that generates a lot of buzz around his name,...
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Chapter 4: Chapter 9
...intellectuals have begun to laugh at Roark, calling him the “the Banner’s glamor boy.” Austen Heller tells Roark to ask Wynand to stop the publicity campaign at once. He says it...
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