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9.32k reviews for:
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
Erik Larson
3.87 AVERAGE
9.32k reviews for:
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
Erik Larson
3.87 AVERAGE
dark
informative
fast-paced
this book is so damn dry. the parts about HH Holmes are interesting but written in such a boring way. at least they offered reprieve from how insanely boring it is to plan an event as big as the world fair. the biggest problem presented in this book over and over was time management. there’s not enough time to plan, not enough time to build, now we’re running even later because of a storm, not enough time or money for everyone to see the fair. it’s just not interesting. maybe i’m being harsh. somehow even when the detectives were solving HH Holmes murders it was bland.
2 stars: one bc the murder parts were fun and one bc my mom gave me this book.
2 stars: one bc the murder parts were fun and one bc my mom gave me this book.
Such a interesting mix of The Chicago worlds fair and H.H. Holmes. This book is dry at times and reads a little like a text book, but if you are interested in architecture and serial killers, this is a must read. Loved it
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
woweeeee I mean the fact that I didn’t know any of this happened is crazy. a historical non-fiction that reads like a mystery novel. I loved it!
"The Devil in the White City" is an amazing and thrilling read that swirls around the Chicago Fair of 1893. Writer Eric Larson brings the personalities and events of this historical occasion to vivid detail. This is a masterpiece of writing that I found difficult to put down.
America in the 1890s was reeling from Paris having a monumental fair and of course, thought that a fair should be done in the states. Many cities vyed for the fair and Chicago won out.
The narrative of the book focuses on many personalities but the two main agents are: Daniel Burnham who bore the stress of putting the fair together and H.H Holmes, one of America's most sadistic serial killers who used the fair to find victims.
The theme is compelling: what humanity is capable of when they come together and are directed by a visionary. Chicago was transformed into the beautiful White City. The Ferris Wheel was invented. Many contemporary celebrities attended. Conversely, Holmes a vicious serial killer was at work. In trade, he was a doctor and well off. He built a building near what would be the fairgrounds using many different contractors. The building was odd- hallways leading to nowhere, weird rooms, etc. He would use this building as a horrific kill house and dispose of bodies in the basement. No one can be sure how many people he actually killed but it did include children. The book gives us a glimpse of people: capable of stunning achievements and great evil.
The history is well documented in footnotes and this book is masterfully written by Mr. Larson. Highly recommended!
America in the 1890s was reeling from Paris having a monumental fair and of course, thought that a fair should be done in the states. Many cities vyed for the fair and Chicago won out.
The narrative of the book focuses on many personalities but the two main agents are: Daniel Burnham who bore the stress of putting the fair together and H.H Holmes, one of America's most sadistic serial killers who used the fair to find victims.
The theme is compelling: what humanity is capable of when they come together and are directed by a visionary. Chicago was transformed into the beautiful White City. The Ferris Wheel was invented. Many contemporary celebrities attended. Conversely, Holmes a vicious serial killer was at work. In trade, he was a doctor and well off. He built a building near what would be the fairgrounds using many different contractors. The building was odd- hallways leading to nowhere, weird rooms, etc. He would use this building as a horrific kill house and dispose of bodies in the basement. No one can be sure how many people he actually killed but it did include children. The book gives us a glimpse of people: capable of stunning achievements and great evil.
The history is well documented in footnotes and this book is masterfully written by Mr. Larson. Highly recommended!
dark
informative
slow-paced
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Parts of it were interesting, but way more time was spent on the construction of the fair than I cared about. It dragged on and on.
dark
informative
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced