The Devil in the White City

Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

By: Erik Larson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 14 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The true tale of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and the cunning serial killer who used the magic and majesty of the fair to lure his victims to their death.

Two men, each handsome and unusually adept at his chosen work, embodied an element of the great dynamic that characterized America’s rush toward the twentieth century. The architect was Daniel Hudson Burnham, the fair’s brilliant director of works and the builder of many of the country’s most important structures, including the Flatiron Building in New York and Union Station in Washington, D.C. The murderer was Henry H. Holmes, a young doctor who, in a malign parody of the White City, built his “World’s Fair Hotel” just west of the fairgrounds—a torture palace complete with dissection table, gas chamber, and 3,000-degree crematorium.

Burnham overcame tremendous obstacles and tragedies as he organized the talents of Frederick Law Olmsted, Charles McKim, Louis Sullivan, and others to transform swampy Jackson Park into the White City, while Holmes used the attraction of the great fair and his own satanic charms to lure scores of young women to their deaths. What makes the story all the more chilling is that Holmes really lived, walking the grounds of that dream city by the lake.

The Devil in the White City draws the reader into a time of magic and majesty, made all the more appealing by a supporting cast of real-life characters, including Buffalo Bill, Theodore Dreiser, Susan B. Anthony, Thomas Edison, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, and others. Erik Larson’s gifts as a storyteller are magnificently displayed in this rich narrative of the master builder, the killer, and the great fair that obsessed them both.

©2003 Erik Larson (P)2003 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

National Book Awards, Short-listed

Edgar Allan Poe Award Winner, Fact Crime, 2004

"Engrossing . . . exceedingly well documented . . . utterly fascinating.” —Chicago Tribune

“A dynamic, enveloping book. . . . Relentlessly fuses history and entertainment to give this nonfiction book the dramatic effect of a novel. . . . It doesn’t hurt that this truth is stranger than fiction.” —The New York Times

“A wonderfully unexpected book. . . Larson is a historian . . . with a novelist’s soul.” —Chicago Sun-Times

Fascinating!

Nice narration, fascinating story - I had to go online and look up the photos of the White City as I was listening to it.

Wonderful

One of the greatest history book I've ever read/listened to.

Review of Devil in the White City.

Will look for other books written by author and read by Scott Brick both did a great job. Loved the history of Chicago and the Fair. Shirley Muir

Interesting

2/3 Story of Chicago World Fair.
1/3 Story of H.H. Holmes.

Very interesting look at how the world fair shaped the architecture of America.

just ok, maybe the story mix could be different.

its a book that try too much, still feel it would have been better with two different books.

Too long

The author is overly verbose. An interesting story. Could be half the length or less.

Grim and Fascinating

This detailed historical account of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the parallel story of what may be the first documented account of a serial killer is like mixing something tart and sweet to the taste buds. Erik Larson combines remarkable historical research to highlight the impact that the Chicago World's Fair has had on our lives as well as the gruesome story of the serial killer who hid in plain sight among the activity of that time period in Chicago.

Larson cuts no corners in describing through literary illustration the furious path taken in all forms of development of the city on a remarkably short time-line and the innovations that evolved in architecture, construction, landscaping and technology to prepare for the event. All occurring coincident with the global financial crisis at the same time.

His profiles of Daniel Burnham and the men who made it happen is thorough providing the required background to help appreciate what drove them to take on the challenge.

At the same time, Larson masterfully weaves into the story the brutal murders of people unlucky enough to cross paths with Henry Holmes. Holmes ability to carry on his dark activities was owed in no small part to the activities of the time in Chicago which attracted many to the city.

As always, Scott Brick's narration of the book is engaging and flawless.

Good but slow

The book was slow but it was a good story with losts of boring info.

Not just true crime

Great audio book but know that you're also getting a full story about Chicago architecture and life at that time. Which I loved! But could be a bore for someone who's not interested. Very formal language as well (step back into 1890s kind of language).

Awesome Book

This book has two intertwining stories that are both fascinating. I live in Chicago so am perhaps biased but there is a lot of interesting history in there along with a True Crime thriller. Enjoy!