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A review by jcburcham
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Audio. This is really two books in one (the stories overlap in time and location) and the reader should consider this warning/review before deciding to plunge in. I write this because I wish someone had warned me, but none of the reviews I read hinted at a concern.
This book came highly recommended, and I knew one of the main plot lines followed the history of Herman Webster Mudgett (alias H. H. Holmes and many, many others), a serial killer whose true victim count will never be known. The other plot line is the creation of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago.
The author, Erik Larson, is a master of investigative research and his books are written in a compelling, almost novel-like fashion. So even though there is a small amount of speculation infused in his descriptions of how Holmes killed a few of his victims, the much more horrific aspect for me was learning that this man, who appeared so charming and likable, conducted his business under the guise of a hotel, complete with at least one airtight, vault-like bedroom that could be infused with deadly gas, and what was essentially a crematorium furnace. How he was able to run this operation for <i>years</i>, with various guests or employees just "disappearing" and no investigation by the police, haunts me.
But what really made me sick to my stomach was Larson's descriptions of victims (almost exclusively young women and children) before their unexpected and absolutely terrifying final moments. For the most part, the reader is spared graphic detail, and the author certainly handles the subject with genuine respect and no sensationalism, but the implication of what happened--what is left unsaid--is just as horrifying. There are descriptive images in this book that I will never be able to erase from my memory.
Reading about the 1893 World's Fair held in Chicago offered a welcome relief from the horror depicted in the story about Holmes. Although heavy with facts and details, one can feel the excitement building and the reader wonders if everything will come together! I really enjoy this sort of historical storytelling, and it's why I'm such a fan of Erik Larson. I learned so much!
Rating this book is not easy...the pain and sadness I feel for Holmes's victims is genuine, and learning of his story has cost me much sleep. I understand why some like this book and others do not, and I think one should consider carefully before diving into this piece of history, despite being well written and accurately portrayed by the talented Erik Larson.
This book came highly recommended, and I knew one of the main plot lines followed the history of Herman Webster Mudgett (alias H. H. Holmes and many, many others), a serial killer whose true victim count will never be known. The other plot line is the creation of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago.
The author, Erik Larson, is a master of investigative research and his books are written in a compelling, almost novel-like fashion. So even though there is a small amount of speculation infused in his descriptions of how Holmes killed a few of his victims, the much more horrific aspect for me was learning that this man, who appeared so charming and likable, conducted his business under the guise of a hotel, complete with at least one airtight, vault-like bedroom that could be infused with deadly gas, and what was essentially a crematorium furnace. How he was able to run this operation for <i>years</i>, with various guests or employees just "disappearing" and no investigation by the police, haunts me.
But what really made me sick to my stomach was Larson's descriptions of victims (almost exclusively young women and children) before their unexpected and absolutely terrifying final moments. For the most part, the reader is spared graphic detail, and the author certainly handles the subject with genuine respect and no sensationalism, but the implication of what happened--what is left unsaid--is just as horrifying. There are descriptive images in this book that I will never be able to erase from my memory.
Reading about the 1893 World's Fair held in Chicago offered a welcome relief from the horror depicted in the story about Holmes. Although heavy with facts and details, one can feel the excitement building and the reader wonders if everything will come together! I really enjoy this sort of historical storytelling, and it's why I'm such a fan of Erik Larson. I learned so much!
Rating this book is not easy...the pain and sadness I feel for Holmes's victims is genuine, and learning of his story has cost me much sleep. I understand why some like this book and others do not, and I think one should consider carefully before diving into this piece of history, despite being well written and accurately portrayed by the talented Erik Larson.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Murder, and Torture