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

Inspired by my trip to Chicago!

Reading this book was inspired by a recent trip to Chicago, where we sat in the actual office of Daniel Burnham (in The Rookery, one of the first skyscrapers in Chicago), a famous architect who designed many of Chicago’s skyscrapers (and buildings such as Union Station in Washington DC and the Flatiron Building in NYC). He is a key figure in this non-faction book about the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Many famous Americans intersect in this World’s Fair and in this story: Buffalo Bill (yes, of the Wild West show), Louis Sullivan (designed first skyscraper), Susan B. Anthony, Theodore Dreiser (famous author and journalist), Thomas Edison, Frederick Law Olmsted (designer of Central Park), Archduke Francis Ferdinand (his assassination started WWI), and many others. And the infamous Harry Holmes, a doctor (at least he claimed to be one!) and one of the first famous and fully-documented serial killers in the United States, who plied his grisly trade right next to the World’s Fair. And amazingly rich tale, full of history, full of a time and place in American history, and made especially meaningful to me after visiting Chicago this past weekend! Maybe a bit longer than it had to be, but I enjoyed it.

The power of man to create and destroy

Great story about both a tremendous achievement and depravity of humanity. Great narrative of historical events! Narrated by a consummate professional in Mr Brick as well.

Unable to stop listening

it is unbelievable how much research went in to this work. Wow!!! The story was gripping.

Wonderful!

A fantastic tale of the twists and turns, close calls and coincidences that tie some of the greatest stories of our past into one great story. Larson uses exquisite language to paint a beautiful picture of the people and events. A horrifically wonderful story to behold.

Great book with a movie in the works!

This true story is extremely interesting as it is also horrifying.
I can't wait for the movie that is in the works!!

Ambitious to a Fault

The two driving sources behind this work, the fair and HH Holmes clearly have tendrils that extend into the modern world. The expanse of the fair and depths of evil done by Holmes are each jaw dropping and dense. It's with this in mind that I must critique Larson's presentation of the facts. Sometimes scattershot or frustratingly surface-level, the work devolves upon its unflinching devotion to the smallest detail. As a researcher, Larson is incomparable. To be able to find the menu from a meal consumed a century ago is awe-inspiring. However, that type of detail should be presented sparingly as a novelty rather than repeatedly at the expense of more interesting subject matter or even just further brevity. The book loses itself in mundanity and detail. The story is interesting but unfortunately told in a way that makes a reader nod off or even worse, disengage entirely. It's a unique American story but one that will challenge a reader's attention span throughout.

Years later I still recommend this book!

It's been years since I read/listened to this work from Erik Larson and it still is top-of-mind when others ask me for a list of recommended books. Excellent character development, detailed historical references, beautifully told.

Fairly Dull

Audible did not bother to get a reader who knew how to pronounce any of the place names - pretty sad. Apparently many famous architects were lonely and misunderstood which seems odd as they ran successful businesses? Also the emphasis on how alone the victims were is super contrived- they would have boarded with other young women and not been able to afford to be alone. Just a complete lack of cultural understanding.

Kept me intrigued

Not usually a fan of nonfiction but have this a shot and I’m glad I did… kept my interest and desire for more!

Fascinating Story, Well researched and Written.

The author brought to life, the Chicago of the late 1800’s. He linked the famous and infamous into a story both fascinating and macabre.