num_pages: 447
description: 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
language: English
title: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
titlecomplete: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
characters: Daniel Burnham, H.H. Holmes
genres: Historical, True Crime, Crime, History, Audiobook, Biography, Book Club, American History, Nonfiction, Mystery
ratings_count: 657423
places: Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
awards: awardedAt: 1041408000000
name: International Horror Guild Award
category: Nonfiction, awardedAt: 1072944000000
name: Book Sense Book of the Year Award, awardedAt: 1041408000000
name: Great Lakes Book Award
category: Nonfiction Shortlist, awardedAt: 1072944000000
name: Edgar Award
category: Best Fact Crime, awardedAt: 1072944000000
name: Washington State Book Award, awardedAt: 1072944000000
name: Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award, awardedAt: 1041408000000
name: National Book Award Finalist
category: Nonfiction, awardedAt: 1041408000000
name: ALCS Dagger for Non-fiction
publisher: Crown Publishers