In the 1890s, Chicago was a city with something to prove. It had a collective inferiority complex of sorts, feeling slighted by its eastern counterparts who apparently regarded Chicago as a midwest backwater, a town that could not begin to compete with the culture and society that metropolises such as New York City and Philadelphia could provide. And the United States itself had something to prove. Paris had just hosted a world’s exposition in 1889 that astounded everyone with its wonders, particularly the Eiffel Tower. America felt it had to outdo the French and take its place as a leader on the world stage. Several cities vied for the honor to host a fair commemorating Columbus’s discovery of America, but to everyone’s surprise – and Chicagoeans’ delight – Chicago was chosen to host the world in 1893.
Erik Larson invites us into this tumultuous period in The Devil in the White City, detailing the extensive and extraordinary preparations that led up to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. It was a time of greatness, where almost inconceivable dreams became a reality, but it was also a time of great unrest and upheaval, with banks closing and thousands out of work. Before reading this book, I hadn’t really heard too much about the exposition, but it is astounding how much excitement and furor it generated. Chicago’s fair boasted architectural and entertaining wonders, as well as many firsts: foods such as Cracker Jack and Shredded Wheat; and the Ferris Wheel. Into this mix Larson introduces us to H.H. Holmes, arguably America’s first serial killer, who made Chicago his main hunting ground. Alternating chapters between the fair and the killer, Larson builds the suspense and anticipation surrounding both storylines, interweaving the two and showing how the fair even helped Holmes carry out his deadly crimes.
The main architect and impetus behind the fair was Daniel Burnham. I didn’t know it until this book, but Burnham was also the designer of the Flatiron Building in NYC, an image of which I have hanging on my living room wall. Knowing so much about his genius and personality as I do now, I have an even greater appreciation for that building.
Although I started a couple books while on vacation (all of them reading challenge selections), The Devil in the White City is the only one thus far that I’ve actually finished, and I didn’t even do that until after we got back – so you know I must have been having a great time if I don’t get much reading time in! And it also marks my second book for the Non-Fiction Five Challenge. Onwards and upwards!
My husband loved Devil in the White City and practically read it aloud to me. It shows that serial killers are nothing new.
I’m surprised Holmes is not as well-known as some of history’s other serial killers. I’d never heard of him until reading this book. I think my husband would enjoy the book, tool. I might get an audio copy for our next roadtrip.
DitWC was such a great read. Like you I didn’t know anything about the World’s Fair or HH Holmes. What a terrible man. Hard to believe he went so long without getting caught.
The explanation of how Holmes did eventually get caught was one of the more interesting aspects to his story. I felt so awful for those poor children and the torture he put them through.
It’s really genius writing that Larson makes the construction of the World’s Fair just as, and sometimes, even more interesting than the sinister goings-on of H.H. Holmes.
So true! I found myself reading a chapter on Holmes, wanting to get back to the story of the fair, and then vice versa – a very suspenseful technique, that!
Seems like you really enjoyed Devil in the White City. There is also a great DVD out, EXPO – Magic of the White City, that also showcases the 1893 fair. Its got a lot of great pictures and Gene Wilder narrates it. If you have Netflix, its available there.
Here are a couple clips of it on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEi3S1HRRoA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPvC8bW-7hU
Thanks for posting those, Jeremiah! Yet another reason for me to renew my Netflix account.
Thanks for the review. I’m going to have to add this one to the list!
You’re quite welcome! I’ll be curious to see what you think of it if/when you end up reading it.
I loved this book, it was so brilliantly written. I used to work for the University of Chicago and drove by the last remaining building from the fair, now the Science and Industry Museum, and the Midway Plaisance every day. I loved learning about what had gone on on that big, open, grassy field many years earlier. I’m glad you enjoyed this.
I only visited Chicago once and that was years ago. Now I want to go back so I can see those places and imagine what it must have been like.
I read Devil in the White City for my book group, and really enjoyed it. I have to say that my enjoyment was enhanced because one of my book groupers is an architect and had the most wonderful, huge picture books about the World’s Fair that showed all of the buildings and gardens that the book talked about. It was amazing!
Oooh, that must have been wonderful! I was glad that Lawson included some photos in the book – I kept referring to them throughout my reading. There are some great photos available online, too.
This one has been on my reading list for a really long time (where have I heard myself say that before?). Very glad you enjoyed it. Your assessment was riveting!
Thanks, Andi! I had this book on my shelf for about a year before finally getting to it.
I really enjoyed this book! I was reading it on a plane trip back home and the guy across the isle from me waited until I put the book down before engaging me in a conversation about the novel. It is definitely a conversation piece.
I bet that made the time pass faster up there! And that was good of him to wait until you put the book down. I hate when a fellow passenger tries to engage me in conversation when I’m actively trying to read.
My brother read this book and recommended it to me a few years ago. It’s been on my TBR read list since then. Your review has brought it back to the forefront- Thank-you.
I just read your profile on your other blog and found out you are originally from Newfoundland. We’re going there this summer, to the Viking Village, Gros Morne and St. John’s. I lived in St. John’s for nearly 3 years when I was very young.
I’ll be curious to see what you think of it. I’ve yet to hear a negative opinion of the book. I hope you have a wonderful time this summer! Newfoundlanders are some of the friendliest people on the planet, and the landscape is just breathtaking. I’m hoping to get back there next year. Was your father in the US military or was there another reason you lived in St. John’s?
I’ve passed over this one several times (in spite of the good reviews) , but now it has caught my interest. Thanks for the review!
I look forward to reading your thoughts on it – you always write such articulate reviews.
We were talking about this book as a book club selection. They wanted me to lead the discussion, and well, I turned it down. I enjoyed the book but felt it lacked enough umf to keep a hour long discussion engaged. Reading the comments I may be totally off-base!
I loved Larsen’s Isaac’s Storm and wanted to do it with a Katrina discussion added on, since it was the storm serge which really hit our Mississippi gulf hard. I highly suggest it, too.
Well, maybe you can re-suggest it.
I was looking at a copy of Isaac’s Storm at a used bookstore the other day, but I decided I probably would never actually read it so I didn’t get it. Maybe I should have!
I’ve heard only good things about this one. It’s been on my list, but just haven’t got to it yet. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, too.
It’s definitely one of those books that after reading it, you wonder what took you so long to do so. I want to read his new one called Thunderstruck, about Marconi and the trans-Atlantic wireless telegraph. (I’m from Newfoundland and that event figures somewhat prominently in our history.)
I think I must be the only person who has seen the cover of this book but never read a review. It sounds fabulous. Thanks for an excellent review.
I first heard about this book last year when I worked at the library. A few of my coworkers were raving about it, so I added it to my wishlist. I don’t think I’ve actually read any blogger reviews about it – I think most people read it a few years ago.
Devil in the White City is on my TBR pile, so I’m thrilled to see that you and so many of your readers enjoyed it.
I’ll be curious to see what you think of it, too.
Newfie’s from St. John’s.
Well, tell him hello from a fellow expat Newfie! Although I’m a baygirl myself.
I didn’t know Chicago had an inferiority complex. I’m from Canada, and the whole country used to have one. Until we started getting blamed for things on cartoon shows. I think we liked the attention.
I’m from Canada, too – although I’m an expat.
Oh yes, we Canadians definitely had one, and I think in some ways, still do. Chicago at the turn of the century was definitely not seen as equal to the other American cities, particularly those on the East Coast. To New Yorkers or Philadelphians, Chicago was beyond the pale, a backwater town. The elite of Chicago did not take kindly to that, which is why they fought so hard to host the fair.
I read this book a few years ago. I found the chapters about Holmes to be very sinister. He was truly a scary individual. My favorite parts of the book deal with the building and opening of the World’s Fair. Fascinating stuff.
He was, wasn’t he? I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten nearly as much modern press as say, Jack the Ripper.