The Last Days of Night

A Novel

By: Graham Moore

Narrated by: Johnathan McClain

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

Graham Moore rises to the level of Ken Follett

I am a huge Ken Follett fan. I enjoy historical fiction with strong characters. Even David McCullough, who writes excellent books, does not deliver the deep constructed characters that Follett does (mostly because McCullough sticks to non-fiction).

Anyway, in this book Moore rises to the level of Follett. As a bonus, the main characters in this book are actually real people. While he re-arranges things to make the story work, you find out at the end (in the author notes) that 90% of the core is supported by actual history.

Tesla, Edison, and Westinghouse. Ya

Great novel about the fight for who invented the light bulb and a/c. I enjoy fictional histories that give me a feel for the times, the issues, the fights, and that help me learn about history. This one is written like a legal thriller and even brung a tear to my eyes a few times. Great reader also

Loved it!

I had to keep listening. The depiction of Edison and Westinghouse is Unforgettable. I love that it contains truth as well as a great storyline. the narrator did a great job of portraying the characters!

Slice of industrial history comes alive

Yes, this is historical fiction but Mr Moore did a superlative job blending titans of industry and science of the late 1800s into a tale of mystery and intrigue. It would be like Gates, Jobs, Buffett and Musk all fighting over patents and intellectual property today. Very good performance quality including very entertaining voicing of Tesla.

enjoyed the history

it was great well performed and the history was so interesting. i learned a lot about Westinghouse and Edison. great for my long car ride.