Hi, /lit/. I don't come here often, but I'd appreciate your expertise and recommendations on a topic I've been wondering about.
So I recently read a couple of Ayn Rand's novels, and I was honestly quite impressed. I was impressed by how absolutely based the heroes of these novels were. Now I am not a total capitalist or a modernist – I'm actually more of a traditionalist in my worldview – but I was still quite compelled by Ayn Rand's ability to write such defiantly masculine heroes. It is sometimes said that no one writes a manly man better than Rand. Like I was saying, I don't totally agree with Rand's philosophy or economics; I just really appreciate something about the confident, virile spirit of the men she creates in her stories. That's something you don't often see anymore in respected literature. Literary snobs today usually look down on the ideal of the masculine hero as an impossible cliche that belongs only in childish comic books. I disagree.
I guess what I want to ask is: Do you know of any other novels that heroisize manly as fuck dudes who are determined to get their way and achieve their vision despite all the haters and naggers who try to bring em down? And preferably novels which promote a more traditionalist view of man (if you can manage to think of any)? I appreciate any recommendations you might offer. Just hit me with whatever you think might be interesting. I think you know what I'm getting at.
Oh, and inb4 the classics. I already realize that epics like The Iliad and The Odyssey and The Aeneid exist. The classics are obviously a given in this field. But go ahead and mention some classics if you think you really ought to. Just know that I'm really looking for modern novels in particular that are able to successfully express masculine themes in ways similar to how Rand does (but perhaps with a little less dryness).
Thanks!