Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) was born in Smiljan (modern-day Croatia). He emigrated to America in his youth and became a naturalized citizen in 1891. Tesla lived out the last ten years of his life at the Hotel New Yorker in solitude. He died in debt despite his numerous contributions and patents.
Samantha Hunt is the author of two novels, including The Invention of Everything Else-about an imagined period in Tesla's life- which was shortlisted for the Orange Prize. She lives in Tivoli, New York.