In time, Katherine pondered the question: Who was John Galt?

From The Opening Paragraph Of The Radical: An Autobiography

The darkest hour is ever before the dawn. This the disappointed and the unfortunate should bear in mind, and cherish in their hearts, in despondency, with consideration, that if a man can afford to wait, he never fails in the end to obtain much of the object of his wishes. These reflections come with encouragement; for now, thank Heaven, our long-deferred hopes are about to be realized—let no one despair when his fortunes seem most disastrous!

These words were written by Scottish Author John Galt and appeared in The Radical: An Autobiography with a date of May 9, 1832. John Galt is viewed as the first English political novelist.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is a political novel first published in the early 1950s after many rejections. Its hero is John Galt. Seems fitting. Atlas Shrugged has had a profound impact on American culture, economics and educational thought.

The Fifth Letter drew on the original work of the author John Galt.

The author John Galt created the character Sambo in The Annals of the Parrish published in 1821. Hence the use of Sambo’s name as Justice John T. Galt’s most trusted servant in The Fifth Letter. The character Nathan Butt was brought to life in The Radical: An Autobiograhy, inspiring the use of the name Nathan Butt as Justice Galt’s most influential law clerk.

In a deleted scene of The Fifth Letter, Justice John T. Galt shared words from The Radical: An Autobiography with its main character, Justice Katherine Helena Ross. She knew they came from the rare book that she had given him. Galt’s powerful words had transformed both of them.

But one can never really know another person’s character or heart.
That understanding left Katherine pondering the question: Who was John Galt?

Now the author of The Fifth Letter asks you to ponder the question: Who was John Galt? It is a deep question. John Galt is much more than just a fictional character. He is an archetype.

A symbol of the human spirit wrestling against the corrupting forces of the world.
John Galt’s life work impacts us today, especially those who read The Fifth Letter.