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

by: Erik Larson

: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 364.15230977311
EAN: 9780375725609
ISBN: 0375725601
Label: Vintage
Manufacturer: Vintage
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 447
Publication Date: February 10, 2004
Publisher: Vintage
Release Date: February 10, 2004
Sales Rank: 327
Studio: Vintage



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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
Bringing Chicago circa 1893 to vivid life, Erik Larson's spellbinding bestseller intertwines the true tale of two men--the brilliant architect behind the legendary 1893 World's Fair, striving to secure America’s place in the world; and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Combining meticulous research with nail-biting storytelling, Erik Larson has crafted a narrative with all the wonder of newly discovered history and the thrills of the best fiction.

Amazon.com Review:
Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book's categorization to be sure that The Devil in the White City is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Larson tells the stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair's construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor. Burnham's challenge was immense. In a short period of time, he was forced to overcome the death of his partner and numerous other obstacles to construct the famous 'White City' around which the fair was built. His efforts to complete the project, and the fair's incredible success, are skillfully related along with entertaining appearances by such notables as Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, and Thomas Edison. The activities of the sinister Dr. Holmes, who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair, are equally remarkable. He devised and erected the World's Fair Hotel, complete with crematorium and gas chamber, near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims. Combining the stories of an architect and a killer in one book, mostly in alternating chapters, seems like an odd choice but it works. The magical appeal and horrifying dark side of 19th-century Chicago are both revealed through Larson's skillful writing. --John Moe



Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - Thrilling and Enchanting History
This book is an exciting and compelling account of of the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair. Although it reads ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - The beginnings of modern America
Awesome.

The White City, a neoclassical court of stunning buildings, lit up with the first ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Great bus/el read for commuting to Englewood
In most serial killer stories, there is something to lead you to believe that some redemption would have ... Read More


Rating: 2 out of 5 stars - Can't tell what this book is about; The Worlds Fair or H.H. Holmes
This book is choppy at best. It moves from one subject to the next and does not read through.
I was ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Remarkable Story of Tragedy in the Shadows of Triumph
Stories of triumph and tragedy are paralleled in this remarkable book by Erik Larson. I initially picked up ... Read More

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Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.