| |  | Books : The Devil in the White City:Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America |  | | | | | | | | | |
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Availability:Usually ships in 24 hours
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 364.15230977311
EAN: 9780375725609
ISBN: 0375725601
Label: Vintage
Manufacturer: Vintage
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 447
Publication Date: February 10, 2004
Publisher: Vintage
Release Date: February 10, 2004
Sales Rank: 257
Studio: Vintage
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Bringing Chicago circa 1893 to vivid life, Erik Larson's spellbinding bestseller intertwines the true tale of two men--the brilliant architect behind the legendary 1893 World's Fair, striving to secure America’s place in the world; and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Combining meticulous research with nail-biting storytelling, Erik Larson has crafted a narrative with all the wonder of newly discovered history and the thrills of the best fiction.
Amazon.com:
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
Customer Reviews Average Rating: 
Rating:  - The Devil in the White city
Totally loved this book! I love to read about things that really happened and with such accuracy and attention to details.He makes history interesting! Now I just can't wait to go back to Chicago to see all the sites mentioned in the book.
Rating:  - A good read
Enjoyable book about a criminal who until this book has generally just merited a "mention" in books about serial killers.
Very interesting back/side story about the men who planned, designed and built the Chicago's World's Fair.
My only criticism of this book would be the development of the tie-in between the fair builders and the criminal.It wasn't wasn't well developed - it was difficult to discern what the author's point was using this style of writing and joining the two stories. ... Read More
Rating: - Read It!
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time.It's a good example of truth being better than fiction.The accomplishments, connections, events, and action are almost too much to believe.It's a page turner with an easy format and readable style.The author deserves much praise for research, organization, and presentation of an event and era that I feel most of us know nothing about.I especially found the brief descriptions of Hunt, Olmstead, and others helpful as "behind the scenes" ... Read More
Rating:  - Serendipity Does Not Literature Make
I must admit.I don't get it.Two books with grotesque murders related in gory detail against backgrounds of world historical events the intersections of which have little to do with each other.There is a bit of a problem with partially fictionalized history.It becomes a little like infomercials.How much info and how much mercial?And does the fiction begin to stand for the real history rather than admitting when it comes to history there is a lot we don't know and may never know as much as we ... Read More
Rating: - magical
not many books transport you to a time of great changes like this one does. for the too brief of period I have lived in the bookI have lived the rise of a nation andthe dawn of great evil and vision.wonderfull depictions, great people and amzing time.
The Devil in the White City:Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America | | | |
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