Amazon.com Review
Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book’s categorization to be sure that The Devil in the White City is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Larson tells the stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair’s construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor. Burnham’s challenge was immense. In a short period of time, he was forced to overcome the death of his partner and numerous other obstacles to construct the famous “White City” around which the fair was built. His efforts to complete the project, and the fair’s incredible success, are skillfully related along with entertaining appearances by such notables as Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, and Thomas Edison. The activities of the sinister Dr. Holmes, who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair, are equally remarkable. He devised and erected the World’s Fair Hotel, complete with crematorium and gas chamber, near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims. Combining the stories of an architect and a killer in one book, mostly in alternating chapters, seems like an odd choice but it works. The magical appeal and horrifying dark side of 19th-century Chicago are both revealed through Larson’s skillful writing. -John Moe -
As you may remember, this is the book the Detective bought me 5 years ago for Christmas. It keeping with my intention of reading books I already own, I chose it as my book club pick. For various reasons we were delayed a month or so. You’d think that would have given me plenty of time, but of course I waited to start the 400+ page book on Friday evening with book club the following Monday. Though I stayed up to 130am to do it, I finished in time.
Though it isn’t generally the type of book I read (lots of historical facts), I really enjoyed it. I had little knowledge about the Chicago World’s Fair and was quickly overwhelmed with all the information. There was so much that went into the planning and building; it was almost unbelievable. I was almost as intrigued by the part relating to Burnham and the architects as I was about H. H. Holmes, the serial killer.
I did think the author wanted to be sure to get in every little fact that he researched, so at times it was too much. But it was all interesting.
I give it 4 out of 5.
Library books:
Moonlight in Odessa : a novel Skeslien Charles, Janet
Karma Dunlap, Susan
Manhunt : the twelve-day chase for Lincoln’s killer Swanson, James L.
Shiver Stiefvater, Maggie
Hardball Paretsky, Sara
The last Dickens : a novel Pearl, Matthew
U is for undertow Grafton, Sue
Pride and prejudice and zombies [sound recording] : [the classic Regency romance--now with ultraviolent zombie mayhem!] Grahame-Smith, Seth.
Exploration Fawcett Fawcett, Percy Harrison
An autobiography Christie, Agatha
Pride and prejudice and zombies : the classic Regency romance-now with ultraviolent zombie mayhem Grahame-Smith, Seth
The lineup : the world’s greatest crime writers tell the inside story of their greatest detectives Penzler, Otto
