An account of the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 relates the stories of two men who shaped the history of the event–architect Daniel H. Burnham, who coordinated its construction, and serial killer Herman Mudgett.
The Devil in the White City
By eriklarson
An amazing story inside a bigger story of Chicago’s great history.
The 3 star rating is because I really enjoyed the beginning and the end of the book, and I was quite intrigued by the story of Dr. Holmes. The middle of the book, however, bored me. The author went on and on and on, listing the most minute details of the planning of the Chicago World’s Fair. A few of these details would have given a broad idea of …
This book is long on architecture has a murder plot a social plot as it discusses the Chicago World’s fair. Many in book club enjoyed but not my kind of book.
Starts or very dry and slow but it was a great read. It reads like fiction but it’s not. It’s the story of a mass murderer during the preparation for the Chicago World’s Fair in the 1890’s.
Erik Larson gives us two books in one. The first is a rundown of the magnificent 1893 world’s fair in Chicago, the invention of the Ferris Wheel, and the impressive white city that for a time was the envy of the world. Then, it all disappeared, neglected for many years, until a fire consumed it. But the second book! The second story is one of a …
interweaves history and events of the time with a back story of murder and intrigue. i learned so much in this book. Not boring. Well written. Not run-of-the-mill.
Larson writes an ambitious twin history: the making of Chicago’s 1893 Columbian Exposition, and the twisted career of one of America’s earliest-known serial killers, “H.H. Holmes” (Herman Mudgett). Like a good novel, the settings are vivdly realized and the principal characterizations are sharp. Larson rationed his sometimes-wry asides and …
This is a true story that reads like fiction, it is so fascinating. It is a story you will never forget.
Holy cow! Wow. The research Mr. Larson had to conduct….it blows my mind. This story pulled me in from the first page. Not only was I enthralled by the lives of all these people, but by the work these architects were trying to do. And how wonderful to learn there was a Woman’s Building at the fair and that a woman architect was in charge of it. …
A wonderfully-written history lesson!
I grabbed this book after my boss recommended it. H.H. Holmes and his story have intrigued me for a while, so this seemed like a good way to get more information on that.
This was my first book by Larson. I enjoyed the way he shaped this story, following the history of the Chicago World’s Fair in one chapter and then looking into Holmes’ world in …
one of my all-time favorites. I was entirely unaware of the events surrounding the Worlds’ Fair and totally gripped by the story.
Outstanding story, well written and well researched
You need to add historical!!!
If you want to know how they built the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, this is your book. It tells you all about the setbacks and challenges to making it come to life. Oh, and there are a few small parts dedicated to the story of H.H. Holmes and his atrocious crimes. You may know Holmes as “The Devil in the White City.” This book should be titled, …
This was a tremendous accomplishment, but a hefty portion of my five-star rating goes to the research effort put in by Mr. Larson. What a story! That it is based on fact, makes it even more of a triumph. I’ve been wanting to read this for years, but just never had the time to delve into it on a consistent basis. Expect to be dazzled and …
Not as informative as you’d like, unfortunately not enough historical information was available for the author
This book was the first book I read at the library at a book club. I really liked this book and its a good read not takes you back in time.
Great book, especially for those interested in Chicago, urban, of aspects of American history.
Really hard to get into at first. I did do the audiobook at a quick speed, which I’m sure was an attributing factor, but it was hard to follow and boring at times. I looked forward to the passages about Holmes, which unfortunately seemed outnumbered by the ones about Burnham. I also enjoyed learning about the fair AFTER it was built along with the …