The Last Days of Night: A Novel
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Paperback
TW: This book contains explicit descriptions of death by electrocution.
------------
After a memorable opening scene followed by a somewhat sluggish set-up period, Graham Moore's âThe Last Days of Night' builds to an intriguing inner-workings story of a clash between two turn-of-the-century American titans.
This fictionalized retelling of the feud between George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison, which also entangled the enigmatic Nikola Tesla ends up being a moving and exciting story, even though its bedrock has to do with lawsuits and patents for the electrical systems and devices that would light up 20th century America. From this rather unpromising raw material, Moore has managed to extract a tale of industrial espionage, arson, dirty dealings, collusion, and monumental egos, most of which is played out from the viewpoint of yet another historical personage, attorney Paul Cravath, who represented Westinghouse and who also managed to develop the template on which most large law practices are now built (while simultaneously courting a notorious opera singer).
If that sounds like a lot to cram into one novel, it is. But Moore has selectively moved a few events around to smooth things out, makes some reasonable assumptions about his characters' inner lives, and sculpts a fascinating story. (For the historical purist, an author's end-note specifies the liberties taken with the timeline and who-probably-knew-what-when details.)
Readers seeking a comprehensive biographies of Westinghouse, Edison, or Tesla will have to look elsewhere (though Tesla gets the most ink when it comes to the details of his creative life), and Edison, particularly, gets some of the gloss knocked off his legend. Moore has also, without belaboring the fact, led many chapters with quotes from men whose lives wrought equally massive changes in our lives a hundred years later â Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. If there are specific parallels to be drawn, it's up to the reader to draw them.
------------
After a memorable opening scene followed by a somewhat sluggish set-up period, Graham Moore's âThe Last Days of Night' builds to an intriguing inner-workings story of a clash between two turn-of-the-century American titans.
This fictionalized retelling of the feud between George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison, which also entangled the enigmatic Nikola Tesla ends up being a moving and exciting story, even though its bedrock has to do with lawsuits and patents for the electrical systems and devices that would light up 20th century America. From this rather unpromising raw material, Moore has managed to extract a tale of industrial espionage, arson, dirty dealings, collusion, and monumental egos, most of which is played out from the viewpoint of yet another historical personage, attorney Paul Cravath, who represented Westinghouse and who also managed to develop the template on which most large law practices are now built (while simultaneously courting a notorious opera singer).
If that sounds like a lot to cram into one novel, it is. But Moore has selectively moved a few events around to smooth things out, makes some reasonable assumptions about his characters' inner lives, and sculpts a fascinating story. (For the historical purist, an author's end-note specifies the liberties taken with the timeline and who-probably-knew-what-when details.)
Readers seeking a comprehensive biographies of Westinghouse, Edison, or Tesla will have to look elsewhere (though Tesla gets the most ink when it comes to the details of his creative life), and Edison, particularly, gets some of the gloss knocked off his legend. Moore has also, without belaboring the fact, led many chapters with quotes from men whose lives wrought equally massive changes in our lives a hundred years later â Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. If there are specific parallels to be drawn, it's up to the reader to draw them.
Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
