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The Last Days of Night

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'The Last Days of Night' by Graham Moore is a historical fiction novel that delves into the patent war between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over the invention of the light bulb and the battle between AC and DC current. The story follows young attorney Paul Cravath as he navigates the legal challenges and personal relationships involved in this high-stakes feud. With a focus on the historical events and the interactions between real-life figures like Nikola Tesla, the book presents a thrilling narrative that blends fact with fiction, providing a detailed insight into the early days of the electrical age.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with each representing distinct facets of ambition, genius, and human flaws, making them both relatable and complex.

Writing/Prose:

The author's style is characterized by clear and engaging prose that makes complex historical events relatable and entertaining.

Plot/Storyline:

The story focuses on the legal conflicts between Edison and Westinghouse as told by a young lawyer, blending history with tension and intrigue surrounding early electrical inventions.

Setting:

The historical setting captures the transition into the electrical age, providing a vivid context for the unfolding drama.

Pacing:

While the initial build-up is slower, the narrative gains excitement and energy, keeping readers engaged as the story unfolds.
The immolation occurred late on a Friday morning. The lunchtime bustle was picking up as Paul descended from his office building onto the crowded street. He cut an imposing figure against the flow of ...

Notes:

Set in 1888, the story revolves around the legal battle between George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison over the invention of the light bulb.
Paul Cravath, a young attorney, is hired by Westinghouse to represent him against Edison.
The novel explores the 'War of Currents', a historical conflict between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC).
Nikola Tesla plays a significant role in the story, known for inventing alternating current.
The narrative includes actual historical events and personalities, blending fact with fiction.
Moore incorporates the love story between Cravath and opera singer Agnes Huntington into the plot.
The book examines themes of power, corporate rivalry, and the nature of genius.
Moore uses quotes from modern figures like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs to frame each chapter.
Tesla's character is depicted as eccentric and possibly mentally ill, contrasting with Edison's more calculated approach.
The narrative highlights how these inventors' personal characteristics influenced their business dealings and innovations.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains medium content warnings, particularly regarding disturbing historical events related to the misuse of electricity and capital punishment.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance present in the book, featuring the developing relationship between the protagonist and Agnes Huntington.

From The Publisher:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"A world of invention and skulduggery, populated by the likes of Edison, Westinghouse, and Tesla."-Erik Larson

"A model of superior historical fiction . . . an exciting, sometimes astonishing story."-The Washington Post

From Graham Moore, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of The Imitation Game and New York Times bestselling author of The Sherlockian, comes a thrilling novel-based on actual events-about the nature of genius, the cost of ambition, and the battle to electrify America.

New York, 1888. Gas lamps still flicker in the city streets, but the miracle of electric light is in its infancy. The person who controls the means to turn night into day will make history-and a vast fortune. A young untested lawyer named Paul Cravath, fresh out of Columbia Law School, takes a case that seems impossible to win. Paul's client, George Westinghouse, has been sued by Thomas Edison over a billion-dollar question: Who invented the light bulb and holds the right to power the country?

The case affords Paul entry to the heady world of high society-the glittering parties in Gramercy Park mansions, and the more insidious dealings done behind closed doors. The task facing him is beyond daunting. Edison is a wily, dangerous opponent with vast resources at his disposal-private spies, newspapers in his pocket, and the backing of J. P. Morgan himself. Yet this unknown lawyer shares with his famous adversary a compulsion to win at all costs. How will he do it?

In obsessive pursuit of victory, Paul crosses paths with Nikola Tesla, an eccentric, brilliant inventor who may hold the key to defeating Edison, and with Agnes Huntington, a beautiful opera singer who proves to be a flawless performer on stage and off. As Paul takes greater and greater risks, he'll find that everyone in his path is playing their own game, and no one is quite who they seem.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST AND THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

"A satisfying romp . . . Takes place against a backdrop rich with period detail . . . Works wonderfully as an entertainment . . . As it charges forward, the novel leaves no dot unconnected."-Noah Hawley, The New York Times Book Review

Ratings (7)

Incredible (3)
Loved It (2)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (16):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (4)
Not Interested (5)

2 comment(s)

Incredible
3 months

5 shining stars…..

It’s the War of Electricity, which we don’t bother to think about now a days, and take so granted.

The War of Great Inventors, Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, wanted to create a world of electricity. But they preferred their inventions and methods. Edison preferred Direct Current which was dangerous and Westinghouse preferred Alternating Current, safer than DC, though electricity cant be called safe at any moment of time. Edison who had the patent for Light bulbs sued Westinghouse for the theft of his light bulb idea, whereas Westinghouse had modified the original Light Bulb. He hires Paul Cravath, an attorney with so called no experience, to fight against Edison. It takes a bit of work, treachery and undercover operations to plot the fall of Edison. There is also a half wit but a brilliant inventor, Nikola Tesla, who also plays a part in the fall of Edison. There is Agnes Huntington, a singer and love of Cravath, which not only puts a pinch of romance in to the story but a feminine intelligence too.

Based on the true events from 1880’s, Graham Moore has written a wonderfully fast and captivating novel, which I could hardy put down. Moore has played with the timeline, order of events or some relationships, which has only succeeded in its reason.

ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

 
Incredible
6 months

One of the best historical fiction books i have ever read. It combines the excitement of a mystery novel with real scientific war for electricity of 19 century. The quotations from recent innovators like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs was cherry on top.

 

About the Author:

Graham Moore is the New York Times bestselling author of The Sherlockian and the Academy Award-winning screenwriter for The Imitation Game, which also won a Writers Guild of America Award for best adapted screenplay. Moore was born in Chicago, received…

 
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