The Last Days of Night

In 1888 New York, young attorney Paul Cravath takes on a legal defense for George Westinghouse, who is being sued by Thomas Edison for one billion dollars over the invention of the light bulb. The narrative details the "War of the Currents," a period of litigation and corporate espionage where Edison, Westinghouse, and Nikola Tesla battle for the future of American electricity. Cravath maneuvers through patent law and public relations battles to determine whether direct or alternating current will power the nation, dealing with high-stakes technical breakthroughs and industrial sabotage.

This book is for readers interested in the intersection of intellectual property law and industrial history. It appeals to those who want to understand how legal strategies and financial backing often matter as much as scientific invention in shaping modern society. Readers walk away with a specialized knowledge of the technical rivalries between early 19th-century titans and a clear view of how the American legal system influenced the birth of the technological age.

Outward-looking, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.

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