Go Tell It on the Mountain is a 1953 novel by James Baldwin about the Christian Church and its role in African-American culture and everyday life. The novel, which is semi-autobiographical, tells the story of John Grimes, a troubled young man who questions his faith and the teachings of the church. The book treats Christianity both as a pivot-point for the African-American community as well as a repressive force. The book's style and literary references are often biblical and the work subtly examines racism and homosexuality as well.
The Fountainhead is the story of Howard Roark, an architect who refuses to compromise his vision or his principles for anything. Roark is opposed by populist guru Ellsworth Toohey and newspaper magnate Gail Wynand, men who epitomize compromise and dishonesty in industry. He becomes romantically involved with Dominique Francon, later Wynand, a woman of mercurial temperaments. The novel deals with the philosophy of Objectivism, the lionization of Capitalism, and the importance of individual freedoms and vision.