Fascinating!

I grew up in Chicago, and every year in school, we had a short unit on the city's history. It included Carl Sandburg, The Jungle, railroads, and Native Americans. However, we never once mentioned the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition (also known as the World Fair). I knew absolutely nothing about this remarkable event or the people involved until I read Larson's book.

I'm astonished that such an important period, both for the city and the nation, which introduced so many things to American society, has been so overlooked. Larson did an outstanding job of portraying the enormous challenges and struggles that surrounded the fair, as well as the triumphs that came with its successes.

The parallel story of H.H. Holmes, the serial killer who targeted young women visiting Chicago to see the fair, was a spine-chilling contrast to the lofty ambitions and ideals of the exposition's creators. It was captivating to see how the era's countless technological innovations, which were so crucial in creating the fair, could also be misused for much more sinister purposes.

This is a great, well-written book that offers a unique perspective on a significant moment in history.

2.25 stars

The Devil in the White City held great promise. It was set to be the tale of two men: the architect behind the World's Fair and the mass murderer who exploited it for his victims. Truly an interesting concept. However, the problem was that these two narratives were not smoothly integrated. Surprisingly, I found myself bored for a significant portion of the novel.

I perused a few other reviews and everyone seems to share similar views regarding the separation of the two main storylines. Some individuals prefer Holmes' narrative, while others favor Burnham's. Personally, I initially liked Burnham's story much more. But as the book progressed, I discovered Holmes to be far more captivating. This, I believe, comes down to personal preference, as I generally lose interest when non-fiction books delve into economics and business, which is precisely what happened here. Holmes' story was far more terrifying and engaging on a psychological level. There was one aspect, though, that turned me off towards the end of the book.

After reading works like The Five (Hallie Rubenhold's novel about the victims of Jack the Ripper), I have become more cognizant of how we ironically idealize these serial murderers for their intellect and madness and stereotype their victims, thereby neglecting to explore their stories. Although this did not occur specifically in the first three-quarters of this book, it became glaringly obvious to me towards the end. I understand that the objective of this book was to chronicle Holmes' life and his connection to the Fair, rather than to discuss his victims. Nevertheless, in the first few segments, he manages to outline the tragedy of Emeline and Minnie. Later on, however, when he describes the manner in which Holmes was apprehended, he overly glorifies him... perhaps that's just me being overly sensitive. And I felt that the conclusion of his story was too hasty.

This book was not terrible. It was mediocre. It had a few moments that I truly enjoyed, but the pacing was severely off, making it take an eternity to reach another interesting moment. I must, however, commend the author for the use of images. I thought it was quite ingenious to present us with images of the characters and the fair, as it helped to ground the story and make it seem almost surreal (even though it was based on true events).

I had hoped to like this book more, but such is the case.



*book completed as part of the March non-fiction challenge

Tell me, which book would you like to read more?

Grim, gripping, and atmospheric. or,

Soaring, breathless, and inspiring

Why choose when you could have both at once?

Larson's deliberate balance of two narratives is truly a stylistic wonder. It invites us to deeply consider the dual nature of Humankind. On one hand, we see how wondrous the feats are that are engineered by those who seek to do good. On the other hand, we are confronted with how terrible the deeds are that are committed by those who prefer evil. The author's strategic teasing of terrible things to come creates a dreadful foreboding in the reader. This foreboding persistently undercuts the wonder of the awe-inspiring architectural renaissance thread.

This book truly deserves 5 stars out of 5. It is a real page-turner. Although it helped a great deal that I grew up in Chicago and was very familiar with the setting and references. It made the reading experience even more immersive and engaging. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking and thrilling read.

Like most reviews point out, this book is composed of 70% the history of Chicago and the fair and 30% about HH Holmes.

Since I read reviews beforehand and was aware of what to expect, that wasn't an unpleasant surprise for me.

I recently relocated to the Midwest, so even though the parts about the fair were a bit slow-paced, I truly loved learning about this region of the country.

This book is extremely detail-oriented, yet it is also beautifully written.

If you are a lover of history books, I highly recommend giving it a read. You will be immersed in the rich history of Chicago and the fair, and gain a deeper understanding of the events and people that shaped this era.

The author's meticulous research and engaging writing style make this book a captivating read from start to finish.

Whether you are interested in the architecture, culture, or social history of Chicago, this book has something for everyone.

So, don't hesitate to pick up this book and embark on a fascinating journey through time.

A true classic in the true crime field,

When Chicago won their bid for the World Fair in 1903, they were confronted with an extremely tight deadline to create the greatest fair ever, aiming to declare that their city had achieved a significant milestone. It is unimaginable to do something like this in today's context. The deadline would pass long before the environmental impact reports could be completed.

Chicago had always been a perilous city, and the influx of a large number of anonymous and transient people attracted even more criminals than before. Among those criminals was H.H. Holmes, a prolific serial killer, thief, and con man. He constructed a murder house to take advantage of the situation.

The book also delves into the assassination of Chicago's mayor by a deluded individual.

This book is highly recommended for those interested in true crime and the history of Chicago during that era. It offers a fascinating and chilling account of the events that took place, providing insights into the dark side of human nature and the challenges faced by a city striving for greatness.

In 1893, Chicago made a huge impact on the world when it hosted the World's Fair and constructed the magnificent 'White City'. The mastermind behind this was the architect, Daniel Burnham. Just a short distance away from the fairgrounds, there was another individual named Dr. Henry Holmes. He preyed on the women visiting the city by luring them to his hotel and then killing them. He is regarded as America's first serial killer.

So, what do these two men have in common? Besides being in the same city simultaneously, there is absolutely nothing. However, this book attempts to persuade you otherwise. In reality, there is no connection between the two, which is why I am perplexed as to why there is so much emphasis on both of them in this book. I can understand a book about the history and creation of the Chicago World's Fair, and I also see the value in writing a book about the crimes of Dr. Holmes. But combining the two didn't make any sense to me.

While reading about the building and design of the fair was interesting, it is very dense compared to how Holmes' story is presented. It almost feels like an overwhelming amount of information compared to the true crime chapters about Dr. Holmes (which is what I was more interested in). It seemed as if the murders of Dr. Holmes were just a fun little fact that was scattered throughout a history book about the 1893 World's Fair. So, I think the synopsis and title are a bit misleading regarding the focus of this story.

Overall, this is a quite educational book. It isn't as entertaining as I had expected, but it is very informative nonetheless. The Gilded Age and the importance of the World's Fair were things I didn't know much about, so it was fascinating to learn about them. However, I might try to find another book about Dr. Holmes, as this one didn't fully satisfy my curiosity about him.

↠ 3.5 stars

Ohhhh, this book is creeeeeepy and all-true!!!

Being from Chicago, I was in an awful thrall the entire time. The only thing that was lacking for me was a map to precisely show the location of the Fair and all the other buildings mentioned. I assume the fair was likely located roughly on what the Museum Campus is now, but I still渴望 to see a map.

And the people! Burnham, Root, Atwood, and Carter Henry Harrison! It states that his mansion was on Ashland, and I'm curious about the exact location. And Mudgett... I wonder where all of his buildings were... Just thinking about it sends chills up my spine. I wonder if anyone has created a tourist's map based on this book?

O.K., aside from my personal reasons for being fascinated, the writing is excellent and well-documented. The charming aspect is that he documented everything in the back of the book in a simple manner, so if one were inclined, they wouldn't have to be a fancy scholar to follow his paper trail and see all of this for themselves. Power to the people!

The writing style is accessible, and the voice is very appropriate. He alternates between being a eulogist and an undertaker. And the few times he takes liberties and describes things that couldn't possibly be documented, he does so carefully and responsibly. I think it would have been a mistake for him not to take those liberties. I believe everyone who read the book would have felt something was missing.

What's ultimately truly rewarding about this book is that the author outlines all the ways in which the influences of the 1893 Fair reverberated in American culture (and the world) for years afterward. Our national aesthetic sensibility was permanently altered. And our technological sensibility too. To think that all of this was planned so quickly, it was like a supernova in the middle of this underdeveloped backwater (oh, I said it. I live here now, and sometimes I still view Chicago that way). And with all that progress comes this darkness as well; there's an underside to everything.

And with that lovely thought, I'm going to attempt to find the Wooded Island. Ciao!

What a compulsively readable nonfiction book on a topic that I would have never read without the hype.

Readability: ★★★★

Pacing: ★★★

Boring?: at times, but surprisingly not for most of it

Enjoyment: ★★★★

The Devil in the White City is a book that is—exclusively and extensively—focused on one topic: The 1893 Chicago World's Fair. In particular, on two white men of relative means who represented two very different faces to Chicago. One face, wealthy architect Daniel H. Burnham, who was the driving force behind the fair's creation. The other face, blue-eyed middle class conman H.H. Holmes, one of America's most memorable and horrifying serial killers.

Gripping concept? YES.

On the one hand, we're following Chicago's brash attempt to beat all the global odds stacked against them and host an international World's Fair to rival the previous one in Paris...where they unveiled the architectural feat, The Eiffel Tower.

On the other hand, we're following the disturbing rise of H.H. Holmes and his aptly-described "demonic" concept for a murder hotel essentially across the street from the future site of the World's Fair. Holmes was a murdering soul at the start, but his luck at the fair led him to new heights of horror in a stunning twist of fate.

I found the detailed account of these two men and their stories to be extremely gripping. Considering this was nonfiction down to the dialogue used, I was amazed at how quickly I flew through this story. It's well researched and well told.

However... I wish this story had been more all-encompassing in its quest to tell the tale of the World's Fair. This is essentially the lens of one white man telling the two intersecting stories of two other white men...and in an uncomfortable way, it feels like it. I wanted to know more about the minority groups that were involved in the fair—especially the outdated and racist practices of the Midway, which was essentially a "zoo" of international races and cultures—and their struggles. I also wanted to know more about the women involved as opposed to the borderline footnotes that existed in the story—one woman was chosen to design one of the buildings at the fair! And yet she is barely discussed...even though her plot line is clearly an interesting story of the glass ceiling at work. And, taking out both the minority groups and the women, we did not fully dive into the class inequalities at play either. The labor unions were discussed at length (mainly as irritants to Burnham) but the stories of the poor themselves were not handled as fully as I was expecting.

So, overall, a good book. I just wish there had been more of a balanced lens, even though I understand the argument that there is only so much room in a book and it's impossible to cover it all.

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This is truly a remarkable read that is filled to the brim with painstakingly researched historical facts and prominent figures of the era. Even Helen Keller made an appearance at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair! The alternating chapters provide the reader with an education about the colossal undertaking and tight time constraints of building "The White City," all while intertwined with the daily bloodthirsty activities of serial killer Herman Webster Mudgett, also known as Dr. H. H. Holmes.

Reading about B. H. Burnham's construction of the fair during a time rife with deadly diseases, grotesque environmental conditions, and bank failures was indeed enlightening. However, what was most captivating for me was the erection of the monstrous "Ferris" Wheel with its enclosed glassed-in seats. (I googled some amazing photos.)

And this man, Dr. HHH... Picture a young, handsome, and prosperous man with captivating big blue eyes, yet in reality, he is an evil psychopath, a sneaky cheat, and a conniving polygamist. This devil incarnate killed on a whim and brought turmoil to countless families with his slippery ability to prey on the weak and vulnerable. While I wasn't overly surprised by the naivety of the young women, the fact that the men fell for his sleazy schemes truly shocked me.

This work of non-fiction is jam-packed with interesting facts, faces, and descriptive details that are far too numerous to even begin to list here. But now, whenever I see Cracker Jack, I'll surely remember where it originated.

'The Devil in the White City' offers a captivating retelling of the historical events that revolved around the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The author meticulously adhered to written records such as newspapers, memoirs, and books, presenting us with surprisingly intense and fact-based stories. The individuals involved in constructing the World's Fair exhibits aimed to create something truly amazing, and they achieved just that, despite putting their Victorian reputations and physical health at great risk.

Among the remarkable things on display were skyscrapers, luxurious Pullman cars, electric lights, and the very first Ferris wheel. Additionally, there was belly dancing, which elicited shocked responses from most paying customers. The promised cannibals nearly failed to show up but eventually made an appearance. However, the advertised pygmies could not be found in Africa in time for the fair, despite the permission given to kidnap them if necessary. The Wild West show arrived with real (!?!) cowboy and Indian battle demonstrations, starring Annie Oakley and attracting large crowds even when the fair itself was not selling as many tickets.

Many ordinary people with diverse hopes and plans were caught up in the excitement and came to Chicago hoping to change their lives with the opportunities presented by the fair. Unfortunately, some ended up in the clutches of a charming, handsome, and charismatic hotel owner who was not what he seemed. Everyone profiled in the book was seeking a fresh start and an opportunity to realize their happiness, regardless of how insignificant their ambition might have been. Sadly, psychotic murderers also find their happiness in watching others die, and they too come to fairs. In this book, we learn specifically about Mr. Holmes, a documented killer.

I thought I would include a link to a White City documentary: https://youtu.be/cpOQE5KJJds.

The dark/light duality of human nature is vividly on display in these brief chapters of American history. What was new or unknown about human behavior in the 1890s has now become fully integrated knowledge in our present. However, we still have not yet figured out how to identify and neutralize those who live for the dark.

The author is first and foremost a wonderful writer, and secondarily a historian. Despite the dryness of some of the material (for me, not all architectural design is enchanting), I was drawn into caring about these ambitious individuals, with the exception of the serial killer. It was interesting to see how strikingly familiar circus spectacles were to the Victorians, just as they were to the Ancient Greeks and moderns today.

Ana Wallace listed this book as one of The Books that Changed the Way I Think.

The book has had a profound impact on her perspective and way of thinking. It likely contains ideas and concepts that are thought-provoking and eye-opening.

To further enhance the understanding and exploration related to this book, one can watch Ranking the Weirdest Things at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

This video provides a fascinating look at the strange and unique things that were on display at that particular event. It offers additional context and can add another layer of interest and knowledge to the overall experience of engaging with the book.

The combination of reading the book and watching the video can create a more comprehensive and enriching exploration of the subject matter.

Both the book and the video have the potential to expand one's mind and introduce new ways of looking at the world.

They can inspire curiosity and encourage further research and discovery.

Whether one is interested in the specific topic covered by the book or simply enjoys exploring new ideas and experiences, this combination offers a valuable opportunity for growth and learning.

Do you remember that Alec left for America to visit an exhibition? (Unfortunately, Niagara is just a stop on the way - an important one, but still a stop - in the 19th century, distances were still a problem.) The book tells exactly about him - the Columbian Exposition of 1893, the United States' response to the Paris Exposition of 1889 (yes, the same one for which the Eiffel Tower was erected). You see, the great Americans felt small and insignificant. And since we know a lot about Alec and his opinion and little about the event itself, its scale and context, it's worth taking a look at "The Devil in the White City", even if just for entertainment.

This exhibition was a significant event in American history. It showcased the country's technological advancements, cultural achievements, and economic power. People from all over the world flocked to Chicago to witness this spectacular display.

However, behind the glitz and glamour of the exposition, there was a darker side. "The Devil in the White City" delves into the story of a serial killer who preyed on the fairgoers. This aspect adds a thrilling and macabre element to the narrative, making it a captivating read.

Overall, the Columbian Exposition was a momentous occasion that left a lasting impact on American society. Whether you're interested in history, true crime, or just a good story, "The Devil in the White City" is definitely worth checking out.