Rating: 
Summary: History at its best!
Review: Eric Larson is a genius. He took the Chicago World's Fair and wrote a book that is riveting, to say the least. I could not put the book down, and was happily disappointed that I could not finish it in one night.Devil in the White City was well written, an easy read for the most part (some portions of the book tended to be a little flamboyant), and focused most of the time. There were some portions of the book that seemed very desultory and had absolutely no relevance to the book, its prose, or anything of the time. Some portions of the book could have been left out, and some parts, I felt, needed more. The part about the D.H. Burnham's Chicago World's Fair was sometimes lengthy, and unwelcome at points, especially when suspense had built around H. H. Holmes. I think that this book could have been two separate theses: one about the fair and one about the murders. I am not one to tell someone how to make their money, but I would have enjoyed reading a manuscript about H. H. Holmes and then another book about Burnham's Fair MORE than one amalgamated unit, such as the Devil in the White City. Not to take away the good parts of the book. I did not want to put it down for a majority of the time, the details were built a picture of late 19th century Chicago that I thought only fiction could do, the story was truly enthralling and I believe that I would purchase this book again. I am proud to have it in my library. In total, five stars for making history a thrilling read...three stars for organization...and four stars for overall value.
Rating: 
Summary: Cant Recommend This Book Enough
Review: This is Tom Clancy realism with a twist of James Patterson and if that doesnt say "GREAT BOOK!" I dont know what does. You have the great story of Chicago in the 1890s and how it handled its entrance onto the world stage, but the dark shadow lurking was the heinous serial killer weaving a web for his helpless victims to walk right into. Get it, read it NOW! soon to be a major movie that doesnt stand a chance to outdo this Book of the Year for 2003.
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Summary: World's Fair in histrionics; Ripper lore to boot
Review: I must give Erik Larson his due; anyone gutsy enough to undertake a diverse dichotomous project such as THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY, and pull it off no less, should be lauded. The book, as a whole is a good read. Had the two stories been written on a stand-alone basis...I'm not too sure this would have been been the result. The risk lies in commingling two seemingly unrelated narratives; extremely difficult. Chicago's desire to be seen as a social equivalent to New York City underscored the founder's unabounded optimism and blind ambition to build the White City a/k/a the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. For those wondering why it was dubbed "The White City," it was simply due to the fact that all the outbuildings were painted white. The book's Devil was Herman Webster Mudgett, known by many aliases but incarnated in the White City as Dr. H.H. Holmes. Mr. Larson's labeling of Holmes as the Devil is fitting in many ways. Larson's nonfiction account of the vision and construction of the 1893 World's Fair is fascinating. An unprecedented collection of designers and architects were thrown together to make this a fair to be remembered. While their main focus appeared to be fixed on social equivalence with NYC, the founders wanted to ensure this fair would best the Paris fair in great strides. The man behind the vision and infrastructure was Daniel H. Burnham, one of the nation's brightest architects of the era. As a side note, the reader will find it interesting to see Frank Lloyd Wright's appearance as an apprentice albeit briefly as he was fired by the firm he worked for (incredible!). Larson goes into considerable detail relative to the vision, planning, construction, and perception of the Chicago fair. At times, the detail became baggage. At times however, it was historically enthralling. Let's face it, the 1893 fair was responsible for such timeless staples as Juicy Fruit gum, the Kodak camera, Cracker Jack, Shredded Wheat and, the coup de gras, the Ferris Wheel (named after George Washington Gale Ferris). The dark side is draped in the form of H.H. Holmes, a handsome, charismatic psychopath. After reading Mr. Larson's description of Holmes, a modern day mental picture of Ted Bundy comes to mind...a smooth, deadly operator. Holmes saw the fair and it's transient population as the perfect venue to satiate his thirst for control. Given his penchant for deceitfully setting people at ease, he leveraged his way into a hotel/apartment building, the ultimate site of his atrocities. This facility was designed and constructed with its own soundproof walls, gas chamber and crematorium. His primary prey were young women although he would eventually eliminate anyone, male or female, who posed a threat to his sickness. Both of this stories are large, complex, and historically interesting. Larson maintains the reader's interest by utilizing the methodology of alternating chapter narratives between the two stories. Far and away, this story is grounded in the lore of the fair. While there is great detail about Holmes and his exploits, the climax relative to this storyline is anemic. Mr. Larson obviously relishes his research on the Ferris wheel, certainly an incredibly significant engineering marvel of this era. Its significance? The tallest building in Chicago during this period of time was only 14 stories. The Ferris Wheel towered at a height of 264 feet or about 25 stories. This wheel was not fitted with individual cars but with gondola-type vehicles capable of holding a large number of people...it could carry up to 2,000 people. With very few pictures, THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY is a historical narrative, which depends on Mr. Larson's skill as a storyteller; a skill he has finely honed. This is a well-researched piece of non-fiction, historical work that reads like a novel. This is a story worth telling and the reader is fortunate Mr. Larson is the medium. The only negative I saw was the anticlimactic ending to the Holmes portion of the story.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Historical Journey
Review: This is a wonderful historical journey into the history of Chicago and Larson's book is a pure enjoyment. The reader not only learns about Daniel Burnham's amazing feat pulling together the Columbia Exposition of 1893 and the ways it changed the nation, but he contrasts this event with America's first serial killer, ironically steps away from the fair. The reader is tugged from good to evil, from risk to murder, from heaven to hell. Enjoy the ride and thanks Mr. Larson for allowing us to take that ride! The last books from Amazon that excited my interest were, 'Unconventional Flying Objects' by Paul Hill, 'Alien Rapture' by Brad Steiger, and 'Alien Agenda' by Jim Marrs. I highly recommend all these books and you should read the reviews..
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Summary: Horror and splendor.
Review: In 1890, Chicago's leading lights decided that the Windy City should take its rightful place among the world's greatest metropolises. Thus, it would successfully compete with other American cities, such as its arch rival New York, for the privilege of hosting the next World's Fair, held in honor of the 400th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America. The burden of designing and building the fair fell mainly on renowned local architect Daniel Hudson Burnham. Through a combination of grit, determination, and luck, Burnham achieved his goal, creating an exposition that many agreed had surpassed the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889, for which the Eiffel Tower was erected (the Chicago venue boasted it's own architectural marvels, among them a giant spinning wheel designed by a man named Ferris). Burnham's talent and drive to create were matched by another's man's lust to ... destroy. While the fair rose in Jackson Park, serial killer H. H. Holmes (the inspiration for Robert Bloch's American Gothic) was building "The World's Fair Hotel", a personal charnel house containing a dissection table, walk in vault, greased wooden chute, gas chamber, and a 3000-degree crematorium. No one can be sure, but some estimate that Holmes did away with upwards of two hundred unfortunate souls. Horror fans should note that although the publicity for this book tends to emphasize the more sensational story of serial killer Holmes over that of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, Larson devotes far more time to the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of the Columbian Exposition than he does to the dastardly acts of Herman Webster Mudgett (Holmes' real name). Overall, however, the author strikes an appropriate balance, as the alternating storylines prove an effective device in holding the reader's interest. The Devil in the White City is bursting at the seams with splendid esoterica, as Larsen gives us not just the fair but the context in which to appreciate it, not just the sordid career of Holmes, but the details of his day to day existence, providing insight into his unique pathology. The book's density of detail and thorough examination of its milieus does not, however, mean that narrative momentum is sacrificed to an immersion in the world Larson conjures. Like his previous effort, the thoroughly researched and richly imagined Isaac's Storm, this engrossing history of late 19th century America has all the immediacy and punch of a well written work of fiction. Like a good novel, it's rich in incident and telling details. Its huge cast features two "larger than life" protagonists, and an expansive roster of supporting players that include the likes of Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley, Thomas Edison, Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Dreiser, Susan B. Anthony and myriad other notables. Who could ask for anything more?
Rating:
Summary: TWO STORIES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE..A GOOD DEAL
Review: This is a most interesting story of how the worlds fair of 1893 in Chicago came to be. As usual, there is one person that had to fight to see that it happened and it was not easy..for sure. It is a story that should hold your interest from beginning to end and you will learn snippets of information like: this was the first time for Juicy Fruit gum, Cracker Jack, Shredded Wheat; the first time where a zipper, the Ferris Wheel, the Kodak camera and the electric chair first appeared. At the same time you have a story of a serial killer that is stranger than fiction. This is a grand read well written.
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Summary: Truth is Stranger than Fiction
Review: Having just finished The Da Vinci Code (fiction) I was worred if I could find an equally good next read. Well I found it in non-fiction in this book. The volley back and forth in the chapters between the Worlds Fair and Henry H. Holmes was superbly done. I wish there had been more pictures, but aside from that I can find no fault with this book. Its a great read, one that keeps you wanting to know how it all turned out and the side stores ( Pendergast for example)was fascinating. Great history and as one other review mentioned, how did I not know about all of this before. Read it-Enjoy it!
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Summary: Compelling True Crime/History
Review: Larson's remarkable gift is in storytelling - choosing those fascinating bits of information that recreate a city in a time in America's past that is accessible (just over 100 years ago) but still charmingly foreign. Weaving into this rich tapestry are the lives of notable men and women, heroes, villains and victims. It is NOT amazing that this book is true - life is often filled with coincidences and oddities, however valiant or grim - but it is stunning how Larson has selected from his volumes of research only those anecdotes and telling plot points that keep the tale intriguing to the very last. He combines the best of two genres: fast-paced mystery for the true crime enthusiast and valid, exhaustive research told in a crisp, compelling style for history buffs. David R. Bannon, Ph.D.; author "Race Against Evil."
Rating:
Summary: RIGHT IN MY OWN BACKYARD!
Review: Over the years I've read small articles regarding the activities of H.H. Holmes. I have also read many accounts of the world fairs held in Chicago. This book is fascinating because it shows the very dark side of the activities of a serial killer and pits it against the construction of a larger than life mini city.
The descriptions of the fair are lush and extravagant. The details of Holmes atrocities are dark and putrid. When blended together, the stories are both intertwined with one another and are most engrossing.
I've lived in Chicago my entire life, but this book presents a world and a time that seems very far removed from what I know as 'home'.
Rating: 
Summary: The Devil in the White City
Review: The first half of the book deals with the struggle to build the fair and can really drag. The focus seems to be on Olmstead and can be confusing. But the second half, that tells about the impact of the Fair, is really charming. The symbiosis of the Fair and Holmes' murders is never really drawn out, at least for me, probably because there is so little reliable evidence to go on. Erik, why not more about what the police found in the Castle? The book would have been much more exciting if you had punched up the lurid bits. Also, the writing on Fair's featured attraction (see, no spoilers here) is simply charming. I quibble. I bought the book as a hardcover, I was so eager to read it. And it was worth the price of admission. Good work.
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