Book Review: The Devil in the White City

Spoiler Alert

They say the devil is in the details and in Erik Larson's book, The Devil in the White City, it has never been more true, in more ways than one.  Daniel H. Burnham, the architect in charge of the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 was certainly no stranger to this notion.  He faced obstacle upon devilish obstacle as he set out to plan and build a fair unlike anything the world had yet seen.  Larson does a magnificent job in providing a multitude of detail and peppers it with interesting characters and events like Buffalo Bill, Susan B. Anthony, Thomas Edison, the invention of the Ferris Wheel, the Titanic and much, much more to keep you engaged.  The true demon in this book, however, comes in the form of a man.  H. H. Holmes, born Herman Webster Mudgett, was one of the first documented serial killers in America.  The fair and the town's preoccupation with it provided a constant inflow of unsuspecting victims for Holmes.  Larson cleverly intertwines the two plots that offer many parallels.  For one, America enjoyed the beauty of the White City, the centerpiece of the fair, and its many pleasures despite the ugliness and struggles behind its birth.  So it is with Mr. Holmes, both men and women fell victim to his charisma and good looks, unknowing the ugliness that existed inside of him.  In the end, the beautiful young, but temporary buildings of the fair were burned to the ground, the bodies of Holmes' young and beautiful victims were also burned.  The fair paved the way for modern architecture and city planning while the bones of Holme's victims, being re-articulated by his accomplice, provided scientific advancement in many colleges.

Larson never ceased to amaze me with his intriguing story-telling and incredible details that read like a novel, but the most incredible detail of all is that it is all true.  Bravo for Larson.