Play Book Tag discussion

The Last Days of Night – Graham Moore
Digital audio performed by Johnathan McClain
4****

Moore’s novel is historical fiction that focuses on the question of genius. In 1888, gas lamps were still the norm. But Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse both were trying to sell the public on the electric light bulb. Young attorney Paul Cravath is hired by Westinghouse to defend – and win – a lawsuit. He’s been sued by Edison over the question of patent law: Who invented the light bulb and holds the right to power the country?

I was completely captivated by the narrative. The characters fairly leapt off the pages, they were so real and alive. Moore also does a marvelous job of setting the scene; I can easily picture myself at the opera, or looking out at the soft light of gas lamps lighting the streets of New York.

As he explains in the author’s note at the end: “…this novel is intended as a dramatization of history, not a record of it. … The bulk of the events depicted in this book did happen and every major character did exist.” He further explains his sources for much of the dialogue, but states that he did re-order some events for narrative flow, as well as invented some scenarios that may have been plausible but which have not been documented. “This book is a Gordian knot of verifiable truth, educated supposition, dramatic rendering, and total guesswork.”

I was enthralled from beginning to end and may have enjoyed the author’s note even more than the novel. In short it was fascinating, engaging and illuminating. I can hardly wait for my F2F book group discussion.

Johnathan McClain does a marvelous job of narrating the audio book. He sets a good pace and his work interpreting Nikola Tesla’s convoluted speech pattern is priceless.



LINK to my review

I am super excited to get to this. Not only does it have science, but I will be doing some patent law in less than a year when I join my firm! Also, Cravath founded the most prestigious law firm in the US—among the most prestigious in the world—so it will be interesting to read more about him!

When I read books like this, I love when the author has a note at the end that details where the fiction is. I normally turn to wikipedia and other online sources to delve into fact vs fiction.

Books like these is what lead to become interested in non-fiction so I don't read much historical fiction anymore.