The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

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

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I would be hard-pressed to find a better recommendation for this book, than documenting the fact that I read it while on a beach vacation. So, while this is not your typical sand/sun-blissful-ignorance-escapist vacation read, it was so enjoyable and absorbing that I found myself toting the large hardback around to the pool, beach, or anywhere I could find a shady spot and some time to myself.



The book is an intricately researched study of the men and the forces that converged in Chicago before and during the World's Fair of 1893. The men who were involved in creating the "White City" included notable architects, men of wealth and influence, and men who wanted wealth and influence as a result of their participation in the fair. A lot was riding on its success, and reputations were made and lost because of the fair's expansive extravagance.



Interspersed with this history, is the also true story of a serial killer. This part of the book was engrossing. This man, whose career of deception, forgery, manipulation and murder spanned years, several states and so many victims, was drawn to the city's growth in population and enterprise. While at fist seemingly another entrepreneur, his true endeavors have become the stuff of legend.



Erik Larson has my unflinching respect for creating such a wonderfully written story that so completely delves into the truth and history of this dramatic time.



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