The prophet of the new scientific future was a misunderstood personality. From his childhood in a village in present-day Croatia, where his father, an Orthodox priest, dismissed his talent, to the tumultuous years he spent in New York, where his intense rivalry with Thomas Edison gave rise to triumphs and failures, Nikola Tesla was both demonized and worshiped as an idol.

This award-winning novelistic biography describes the chaotic beginnings of the "Prometheus of Electricity," when his quirky character and uncompromising spirit came into the spotlight. For every successful invention of his – be it alternating current or wireless communication – hundreds of others emerged. But who was Tesla really?

Vladimir Pistalo delves into the secret world of a man haunted by the death of his older brother, a man who struggled with the flashes of madness and grandeur, and whose suspicion of institutional assistance led him to financial ruin. An intriguing recreation of the life and work of a pioneering visionary, who continues to inspire and influence us.

"Wonderfully written, incredibly entertaining, and astonishingly original, because it tells the story of a man who, as they say, 'invented the twentieth century,' yet whose life remains an enigma. Vladimir Pistalo's book is marked by the richness, power, and authenticity of works that are now considered classics, such as Günter Grass's The Tin Drum and Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude." Charles Simic

"Tesla – The Face Behind the Mask combines the breadth of biography, the intimacy of fiction, and the elegance of poetry." Kirkus Reviews