The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America

Larson could very well be the worst nonfiction writer currently active in America.

When he remarks that "[Frederick Law] Olmsted was no literary stylist. Sentences wandered through the report like morning glory through the pickets of a fence," he might as well be self-describing. It is truly agonizing to plow through his books. The melodrama is excessive. He will drone on for several pages about some unnamed individual, trying to heighten the "mystery," and anyone who has completed second grade will quickly figure out that he is referring to the inventor of the Ferris Wheel. But only several chapters later - in the fashion of Nancy Drew suddenly falling to the bottom of a dark well - he will have the mystery man dramatically sign his name to a letter: George Washington Gale Ferris. George Washington Gale Ferris !!!!!!!! I did not see that coming.

His narrative is littered with the most insignificant and completely unrelated tidbits of information. I assume it's because they entertained him and he couldn't bear the thought of leaving them out. He adores nothing more than to set a scene - so and so in a Pullman car or a fine dining club, this and that person on an ocean liner, attempting to send a cable to someone on the Titanic - simply to convey some piece of information that is entirely unrelated to the gratuitous scene. Regarding historical accuracy, doubtless there is a fair amount; he does have numerous end notes and he consulted many historical sources. But he also embellishes in a novelistic way that no legitimate historian would ever permit himself to do. It is disgraceful and without shame. He asserts in the text that such and such occurred, but if you check the endnotes, it didn't actually happen - but it could have, he claims. It was likely, he felt. After reading Isaac's Storm, which was also heavily embellished and the endnotes similarly acknowledging such, I have no trust in anything this man writes. I wash my hands of him.

4.5

FASCINATING!

This number, 4.5, may seem rather ordinary at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, it holds a certain allure that is truly fascinating.

It could represent a grade, a measurement, or a score. In the context of a grade, it might signify above-average performance, indicating that the individual has achieved a level of proficiency that is值得称赞的.

As a measurement, 4.5 could refer to a quantity, such as 4.5 liters or 4.5 kilograms. These measurements are precise and can be used to describe the size or weight of an object.

In the world of scores, 4.5 might be a rating for a movie, a book, or a product. A score of 4.5 out of 5 indicates that the item is highly regarded and has received positive feedback from critics and consumers alike.

Overall, the number 4.5 is much more than just a digit. It has the power to evoke emotions and convey meaning, making it a truly fascinating subject of study.

The White City rises above the lake like a fantasy from another time that never existed. But the eyes do not deceive; this image is real.

Bright lights glow at night, and millions of respectful, quiet, mesmerized people look and walk by. The moon shines and reflects on the gigantic white buildings and glittering waters. Magic drapes all.

The Chicago World's Fair of 1893 is arguably the greatest one in history. The citizens of this metropolis, the second city of the nation, need to show everyone that they are more than hog killers. With speeding trains and prosperous businessmen, this is a sophisticated town, particularly to arch rival New York.

In a short while after winning the contest to hold this extravaganza, beating St. Louis, Washington, and the big enemy New York City for the honor from Congress, the next step is committees. Americans love them; they multiply like rabbits but get in the way of progress.

At long last, emerging from countless delays, officially named the "World's Columbian Exposition" to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America in 1492, but its six months run will start a year later in 1893.

A leading Chicago architect, Mr. Daniel Burnham, and his partner John Root are chosen for the enormous job to build it. But also residing in the overcrowded, fast-growing, violent, dirty city is Dr. Herman Webster Mudgett, alias (one of many) H.H. (Henry) Holmes, America's first well-known serial killer.

The two will never meet, but their stories will make headlines around the globe. Mr. Burnham's task seems impossible, made worse when his closest friend in business and in private life, John Root, dies. The committees don't and can't make decisions; days pass, and still nothing is being accomplished. At last, the authority is granted him to be the boss. Burnham says, "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood."

Slowly, things begin to appear on a grand scale. The white, (all the same color) huge, electrified buildings soar into the sky. The scary, new Ferris Wheel will take you there if it is ever built. Lagoons are made, islands formed, canals dug. The waters come from sparkling Lake Michigan, and boats follow. The ugly, empty Jackson Park begins to fill. Something special, even at this early stage, is felt.

Dr. Holmes likes pretty young women just off farms and small towns. The feelings are mutual. He pays attention to their every word, looks into their eyes, and touches them gently. The handsome, soft, well-spoken con man has plenty of charm; few are not enamored. Wealthy too, owner of the strange, rather gloomy, with mysterious odors, the World's Fair Hotel, nicknamed "The Castle," he keeps marrying the women, a real lady killer... but will murder men too.

This nonfiction book is very entertaining and always informative. You can imagine yourself back to the very spectacular, enormously successful, thrilling, magical fair, with the numerous attractions in hundreds of buildings, from the very popular, exotic, belly dancers to the unsuitable Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. He made a fortune just outside the exposition grounds. They don't make this kind anymore.

This book is truly unique, it's like having two books in one!

Sorry if that initial description was a bit annoying. But it almost seems as if Erik Larson composed two very short books - one about the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and another about the murder spree of Dr. H. H. Holmes - and then combined them to form a single narrative. The outcome isn't bad at all. In fact, I believe Larson is quite successful in maintaining clean boundaries between the two storylines. However, it's difficult to claim that these two events are anything more than abstractly related. Yes, Holmes lived in Chicago during the fair and lured many people to his so-called murder castle (he was really snatching people up!), but his actions didn't have a significant impact on the fair itself or the atmosphere surrounding it. There were no alarm bells ringing anywhere in Chicago as a result of his rather unsavory deeds.

Nevertheless, there is a wealth of interesting information here, particularly about the world’s fair. It's really enjoyable to learn new things. For instance, the Chicago Columbian Exposition boasts a long list of firsts. It witnessed the invention of the world’s first Ferris wheel, it led the nation in the first public observance of the Pledge of Allegiance, and it contributed to establishing alternating current as the industry standard for electricity distribution. Even that awful snake charmer song has its roots in the Chicago World’s Fair.

While writing this review, I discovered that Leonardo DiCaprio, that handsome man with the rather unique physical description, is producing the film adaptation and will also be playing the role of serial killer H. H. Holmes. For this, I'm quite pleased.

Poor Erik Larson.

He had a noble intention to pen an extensive and in-depth exploration of the 1893 World's Fair. This fair was a remarkable collaboration of some of the country's greatest creative minds. It included the architect who designed the iconic Flatiron building in New York and even Walt Disney's dad. The fair gave birth to numerous inventions and concepts that have had a lasting impact, such as the Ferris Wheel, the zipper, shredded wheat, and Columbus Day. However, the entire venture was fraught with difficulties. There were delays, petty fighting among the organizers, and bad weather, which further compounded the problems. But despite all the setbacks, it was ultimately a massive success and played a crucial role in shaping the city of Chicago as it is today.

Here's a vivid imagining of what it might have been like when Larson pitched his idea for the book.

Larson: "And the fair didn't go flawlessly - towards the end of the fair, the mayor of Chicago was assassinated by a crazy guy, and there were tons of disappearances over the course of the fair, and a lot of them were probably the work of this serial killer who had opened a hotel near the fairgrounds -

Editor: "Wait, serial killer? And it's connected to the fair? Cool, let's try to include that in the book. Also the crazy assassin sounds good, too."

Larson: "No, the killer - H.H. Holmes - really wasn't connected to the fair at all. I mean, he used the fair as a way to collect victims, but he would have killed tons of people even without it. In fact, after the fair he moved on and kept murdering people, so the fair really didn't have any effect on his methods..."

Editor: "Doesn't matter! How about you alternate between chapters about the fair and chapters about Holmes killing people?"

Larson: "But I don't really know much about that. Nobody does - Holmes never admitted to killing all those people, even after the police found human remains in his basement. I don't really know any actual details about the killings."

Editor: "That's okay, you can just make it up. I'll give you some trashy crime novels to read, that'll give you some ideas. Now tell me more about the assassination."

Larson: "He was just some mentally unbalanced person who thought he deserved a position in the mayor's office and shot the guy when he realized it wasn't going to happen. But the death cast a pall over the entire closing ceremony of the fair, and it -

Editor: "Good, let's sprinkle in some bits about the crazy guy throughout the book, too. Now, back to Holmes: did he maybe kill somebody at the fair, or did they find a body on the grounds or something?"

Larson: "No, the Chicago police didn't even notice anything was happening. It wasn't until he left Chicago that a detective from another state tracked him down."

Editor: "Okay, so we'll make the end of the book about the manhunt for Holmes and his capture."

Larson: "What does any of this have to do with the World's Fair?"

Editor: "Hell if I know. You're the writer, not me - you figure it out. Here's a check. Now go make me a bestseller!"

Four stars for the World's Fair stuff, two stars for the pulpy unrelated bullshit.

For me, reviewing this book is akin to attempting to review any Nicolas Cage movie from the past two decades. If I were asked whether Cage's over-the-top performance was the best or the worst thing about the movie, my response could only be...

\"Yes!\"

The image of Nicolas Cage's more subdued performance is shown, while sanity is not pictured.

If you were to inquire about my favorite aspect of this book, I would promptly answer, \"Erik Larson's writing style!\"

This book is predominantly discussed for the parts related to one of America's first serial killers, Dr. H. H. Holmes. In fact, when the greenlit movie adaptation by Martin Scorsese was recently announced, it mainly focused on the casting of Holmes. However, more time is dedicated in the book to detailing the history of the 1893 World's Fair, particularly architect Daniel Burnham's struggles in getting everything completed in time for the Fair's opening. I'm actually not much of a history buff, so I dreaded that the \"true crimeless\" segments of the book wouldn't hold my interest. But I'm glad to report that I was mistaken. Larson's wit made even some of the drier parts of the novel engaging, and he even manages to build suspense when raising questions we may already know the answer to, such as what engineering marvel the Fair's organizers would decide on to rival the Eiffel Tower unveiled at France's world fair.

Regarding the segments detailing Dr. H. H. Holmes and his grotesque crimes, this is where Larson's writing truly shines. Instead of treating this strictly as a historical account (\"and then this happened, and then this happened...\"), Larson actually writes these moments in the style of a thriller. He delves into Holmes' mind with the same expertise that Thomas Harris used to make Hannibal Lecter continue to send shivers down our spines long after we had put the book down. There were times when I almost forgot I was reading a nonfiction book, as in these moments Larson's novel read more like something we'd expect to find in the horror section.

Which is why if you were to ask me what my least favorite thing about this book was, I would immediately respond, \"Erik Larson's writing style!\"

You probably didn't see that coming, did you? That was a twist right out of an M. Night Shyamalan movie!

While Larson's writing during the Holmes segments was undeniably captivating, I felt he went a bit too far with his speculative approach. He describes what was going through the victims' minds moments before Holmes murdered them, things that Larson has no way of knowing for sure. This pulled me out of the book several times, as when I'm reading nonfiction and the author keeps adding unconfirmable details, it makes me wonder how true this true crime novel really is!

I did enjoy reading \"Devil in the White City\", although I would say it's more of a book for history enthusiasts than true crime fans, as the 1893 World's Fair is clearly the novel's main attraction, while Dr. Holmes is more of a sideshow curiosity. Whether you're here for the Fair or the murder castle, Erik Larson's writing skills make this an interesting read, as long as you don't mind having some speculative fiction in your true crime.

The image of a book cover is shown.

(2-and-a-half-hours of fighting over chocolate in peanut butter... still a better movie than \"Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice\"!)

So, no offense to those who liked this book, but I'm throwing in the towel after 75 pages. It's simply not captivating my interest.

One of the reasons for this is that Larson's writing style is far too speculative for my taste in non-fiction. I just completed reading The Path Between Seas by David McCullough, and he does an outstanding job of making complex, historical events engaging without fabricating scenes that \"might have\" occurred. Even that wouldn't have bothered me so much if Larson had said something more along the lines of, \"It's probable he did this, given what we know about his personality\" or something similar, rather than \"He reached out and touched her hand as he spoke to her.\" There was no clear demarcation between what definitely happened and what perhaps could have happened. That became bothersome.

I could have simply overlooked the non-fiction aspect and enjoyed the story, were it not for Larson's tendency to get mired in inconsequential details. He seemed to toss in facts (or hypothesized facts) whenever the urge struck him, rather than keeping the story flowing.

And finally, I became irritated with the constant jumping back and forth between Holmes's story and the architecture/World's Fair story. Just when I'd become immersed in one, we'd switch to the other. He could have done a better job of interweaving those.

So, since my curiosity is aroused, but not enough to compel me to continue reading this book, I'm just going to do some reading on Wikipedia and consider it sufficient.

Humour me and please allow the channeling of an eighth grader for just a moment. OMG Squeee!!1 Teh best!! (Would an eighth grader say "teh best"?) And now we return you to our regularly scheduled review.

I'm not a huge fan of non-fiction. Scratch that. I'm a huge fan of non-fiction, but not so huge a fan of reading non-fiction. While I appreciate learning and broadening my understanding of the world around and as it once was, I find myself pretty quickly distracted from whatever non-fictional work I pick up. The fact is: most writers of non-fiction are more experts in their field of study than they are expert authors. They deliver the goods well, but aren't quite as adept at prettying them up for consumption.

Erik Larson, however, is a genius. Or something. I could not put this book down. (In the figurative sense—it actually took me about two weeks to read.) The entire length of my time in this book was marked with moments in which I would stop reading, interrupt my wife from the depths of her studies, and remark again how good this book was.

(I'm sure that she would have been happier had Larson just been your average purveyor of non-fictionalizations.)

In The Devil in the White City, Larson chronicles chiefly a tale of two city-dwellers. Architect, Daniel Burnham and pharmacist, Henry Holmes. One would helm the creation of a wonderland of awe-striking beauty and refinement. The other would become one of America's earliest and most diabolical serial killers. All this against the backdrop of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (a.k.a. the Chicago World's Fair).

Daniel Burnham, the self-made architect, who designed the Rookery in Chicago and would later design the Flatiron Building in New York, assembled a team of the best American architects of the day for the task of crafting a World's Fair in Chicago that would be even more exquisite than the one held in Paris years earlier. The Paris Exposition had also unveiled Gustave Eiffel's incredible tower, so Burnham put a call out to American engineering: something grander would have to be proposed and built. National reputation was at stake as well as civic pride. Larson explores in exciting detail the glories and the tragedies of this great endeavor.

In contrast to this paean to human ingenuity and spirit, Larson focuses the other half of his narrative on a man as diligent in his chosen task as Burnham was in his. H.H. Holmes, the self-style pharmacist, who killed upwards of twenty-seven (mostly young women, fresh to the city), built for himself a hideous parody of the grand buildings that the world would soon celebrate. Bit by bit, he crafted what would later be known as his murder castle, a hotel whose ground floor hosted several businesses and whose other floors would boast far more sinister use. The second and third floors contained numerous rooms and hallways and secret compartments and switches. Airtight rooms with gas outlets. Walk-in vaults purpose not for keeping out but for keeping in. And a slicked chute to the basement where a kiln, acid, and limepits awaited. Holmes was handsome and charming in a way that made him irresistible to women. He was also a psychopath who would turn the American attention far too late.

Larson, as a chronicler, is top notch. He entertains even as he educates. And he leaves just enough narrative tension to compel the reader along his path. Larson knows how to keep enough information back to avoid rendering the latter half of his book naught but excruciating anti-climax. The Devil in the White City is certainly an accomplishment and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

If forced to, I will admit two quibbles with the book: 1) I was thirsty for more pictures and wanted desperately to see these buildings that Burnham and company were so busied upon; and 2) on the whole Larson keeps his voice clean of any emotive spots not merited by the characters themselves, but there were two moments when I was sure I was hearing Larson's voice beam through (it could have been worse—at least those two moments were funny).

*note: see what I did there? You didn't actually have to force me.