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Ten Years of Research
Tesla’s Cottage is a beautifully woven mix of memoir, historical detective story, and tribute to Nikola Tesla’s human spirit, exploring his lesser-known years in Shoreham, Long Island, where he sought refuge and inspiration during the critical period of the Wardenclyffe project. What inspired you to share his story and its connection to you?
Too often, Nikola Tesla is seen as a strange individual who lacked human emotions. He is regarded to be a kook or even seen as an alien by some. My book focuses on Nikola Tesla as a human being: the motivations behind his work, his struggles, his warmth, his joys and happiness. It speaks to his daily life at Wardenclyffe the village where he had a lab and built his tower. Since I live in his former home there, I have a specific insight into what his life was like. I breathe the same air, see the same horizon, swim in the same water; I literally walk in his footsteps. I also have access to village lore as well as unpublished accounts written by residents who knew Tesla while he was here.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Tesla’s primary goal was the advancement of the human race. To this end, he invented the polyphase AC motor, wireless technology, remote control, electrotherapy applications and so, so much more. The purpose of his inventions was to achieve world peace, universal education, increased productivity, environmental sustainability, and provide abundant food to the world. Because he believed he could improve the human race in this way, he gave up everything that might be a distraction: a wife, a family, a home of his own, and personal profit.
What was the most challenging part of telling this story, and what was the most rewarding?
The most challenging aspect was probably the ten years of research that went into proving that Tesla did live in my house, discovering what his life was like, and discovering who his local friends (and enemies) were, etc. The most rewarding was coming face to face with the man, the human being behind the meme.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Tesla’s Cottage?
I hope that people come away with an accurate portrait of a very human person who dedicated his life for humanity. I also hope they come away with an idea that I believe Tesla would want to convey: technology is neutral. It can be used either for good or evil. Tesla believed that the only purpose of technology was to improve the human race. In today’s world, it is critical to ask if our vast technology is making us more intelligent, more compassionate, more open-minded, and safer; or, on the other hand, are we becoming intellectually lazy, more isolated, less tolerant, and more imperiled?
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Daddino set on a on a ten-year long search for answers. Was the cottage really his home? How long did he live there? What was his life like? Who were his friends, his enemies?
Daddino scours historical records and newspapers and reads Tesla’s own letters and those of his friends. Bit by bit, she pieces together the inside story of Tesla and his wonderful tower.
Alternating between past and present, the narrative wends its way through New York City during the Gilded Age, the humble beginnings of Wardenclyffe-on-Sound and the Shoreham of today to discover the man behind his inventions – his perseverance and heartbreaks, triumphs and regrets, and the quarrels and friendships history has long forgotten.
Part biography, part memoir, part detective story, Tesla’s Cottage: The Lost story of Wardenclyffe (and how it was recovered) brings Tesla to life and reveals the legacy he leaves for those of us living today.
Tesla’s Cottage: The Lost History of Nikola Tesla at Wardenclyffe
Barbara Daddino’s Tesla’s Cottage is a beautifully woven mix of memoir, historical detective story, and tribute to the human spirit of Nikola Tesla. The book explores Tesla’s lesser-known years in Shoreham, Long Island, where he sought refuge and inspiration during the critical period of the Wardenclyffe project. With deep reverence and personal insight, Daddino chronicles her own journey, uncovering the truth behind the house she now calls home, once inhabited by the brilliant yet often misunderstood inventor. Alongside her investigation, she paints a vivid portrait of the town, its evolution, and the passionate efforts to preserve Tesla’s legacy.
What struck me most was the author’s voice—tender, curious, and occasionally heartbroken. She doesn’t just relay facts; she invites you to feel them. Her writing is intimate and grounded, skipping pretension in favor of honesty. The structure itself mirrors the meandering nature of memory and discovery, which made it feel like I was walking through the dusty corners of history with her. Daddino isn’t afraid to admit when the trail goes cold, and that authenticity—those pauses and uncertainties—lend the book its charm. It’s not just about Tesla; it’s about devotion, place, and how the past lives on in small, stubborn ways.
There are moments when the timeline blurs, or the line between myth and fact wavers without resolution. But that may be the point. Daddino doesn’t try to trap Tesla in a neat narrative. She embraces the mystery. At times, I felt frustrated, like wanting to grab history by the collar and demand answers, but I always felt something. And that, to me, is the mark of a book worth reading. It moved me, even when it didn’t quite satisfy me.
Tesla’s Cottage is not for those seeking a scientific breakdown of Tesla’s inventions or a rigorous biography. It’s for the dreamers, the romantics, and the seekers—those who believe that stories matter as much as facts, and that a man like Tesla can still haunt a place, not as a ghost, but as a presence. I’d recommend it to anyone with a fascination for Tesla, an appreciation for place-based storytelling, or simply loves a good book.
Pages: 332 | ASIN : B0DYCSGFZP
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