In some historical fictions, Edison is often depicted as a shrewd and competitive inventor. He was a pioneer in many electrical inventions but also had a cut - throat side in business, especially in his 'War of Currents' with Tesla and Westinghouse. Westinghouse, on the other hand, is shown as a forward - thinking entrepreneur who was willing to take risks on new technologies like alternating current. Tesla is usually portrayed as a brilliant but somewhat eccentric genius. His ideas were far ahead of his time, and his relationship with Edison was complex, starting as an employee of Edison but later becoming a rival in the electrical field.
A frequent theme is innovation. All three men were at the forefront of the electrical revolution. Their inventions and ideas are central to the historical fictions. For example, Tesla's ideas for wireless power transfer are often a topic. The theme of power struggle also exists. Edison's attempt to maintain his hold on the electrical market with DC against Westinghouse and Tesla's AC is a common thread. And the theme of the underdog can also be seen. Tesla, in some fictions, is portrayed as a brilliant mind that was sometimes overlooked or taken advantage of by the more powerful Edison and Westinghouse in the business world.
Yes, there are several. Some fictional works explore the intense rivalry between Edison and Tesla, often dramatizing their different approaches to electricity and their competing inventions.
In young adult fiction, Tesla is often portrayed as a brilliant but underappreciated inventor. His eccentricities are sometimes emphasized, like his visionary ideas that were ahead of his time. Edison, on the other hand, is usually shown as a more commercially successful inventor. He might be depicted as a bit of a rival to Tesla, which was true in real life to some extent.
The themes of ambition and the impact of technology are common in young adult fiction regarding Tesla and Edison. Their ambition drove them to create amazing things. The impact of their inventions, like how electricity changed people's lives, is explored. It makes young adults think about the role of inventors in society and how their own ambition can lead to great things.
In the context of the Current Wars between Tesla and Edison, lawyers played significant roles. Lawyers were involved in patent disputes, which were crucial in this battle of electrical innovation. Tesla and Edison had different approaches to electricity, and the legal battles over their inventions were complex. Lawyers had to interpret and fight for the rights of these inventors based on the existing patent laws.
Historical fiction with Thomas Edison as the subject could tell stories from different perspectives, maybe from the viewpoint of his assistants or rivals. It might also incorporate fictional events that could have potentially happened during his time and work.
Historical fiction often humanizes Edison. Instead of just seeing him as a great inventor with a list of achievements, we get to see his flaws, his hopes, and his dreams. We can read about his family life, how he managed his team of inventors in his laboratory. It can also show his competitiveness, like in the race to develop electrical systems, which gives a more rounded picture of who he was and how he functioned in that era.
Tesla and Edison were major players in the Current Wars. Edison promoted direct current (DC), while Tesla was a proponent of alternating current (AC). Edison tried to show that AC was dangerous. Regarding novels, I'm not sure if there are many directly about this specific 'Current Wars' in a very popular sense, but there could be some historical fiction that touches on it.