Review: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

[fashion_piranha]

The Devil in the White City

by Erik Larson

The Devil in the White City tells the tale of Chicago at the end of 19th century as the city struggled to complete Columbian Exposition World’s Fair, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of the Americas. Erik Larson decided to focus on two men: Daniel Burnham, the architect

Comments

[saru_kage]

The National Geographic Channel did a really interesting show--I think by the same name--a while ago about this. I'm kinda disappointed to hear the book was so flat because the H.H. Holmes story is one of the most amazing and bizarre serial killer stories I've ever come across. But I can definitely imagine how trying to give more or less equal prominence to Holmes, Prendergast, and The World's Fair would work to dry up the narrative though.

The Nat-Geo show was up on Hulu, and might still be there, or floating around Google Video, for people who want to know the story but don't want to suffer through the book.

[saru_kage]

Looked it up. It's called Madness in the White City, and it is still on Hulu.

[fashion_piranha]

So watching this now. Awesome!

[ying_ko_4]

I came away with a totally different feeling of the book. I loved it. I thought he did a masterful job telling two stories that were taking place around the same time. Using the Fair and Chicago as the canvas upon which both stories were told.

Holmes wouldn't have been nearly as successful without the Fair going on and all the attendant distractions that went on as a result.

I thought the book did a fine job of telling the two unrelated (on the surface) stories going on at about the same time and place.

I like reading your reviews, FWIW.

[k00kaburra]

I know the book did very well when it first came out, and several people did recommend it to me so I expected it to enjoy it. It's true that Holmes would not have been as successful a killer without the Fair, and I think his story is fascinating, but scattered throughout all the details about building construction, petty rivalries between architects, bitchy Olmsted wanting his parks to be perfect, and the like Holmes just seemed out of place.

I'm glad you liked the book though! It had a great idea behind it; I just ended up disliking the execution.

[fashion_piranha]

Oops!
Forgot to log out of my other account. OH well.

[book_maven]

Several people recommended this to me and I thought it didn't look very good. Glad to see my flip through opinion confirmed by someone who's actually read the book. Fascinating subject though.

[prairierabbit]

One thing that I think you lose with the audio book is the maps and photos and some of the detail. You might want to check out the visuals in the book, because I think they added to my enjoyment of it as a tale of public architecture.

[fashion_piranha]

That is so true! One of the great things about watching the documentary saru_kage mentions above was that it did allow me to see the buildings from the Fair. From what I read in Amazon.com's descriptions, there weren't that many illustrations in the book, only 6 black-and-white images and a map.

[fashion_piranha]

I've heard Isaac's Storm is quite good :) I love natural disasters (which probably makes me some sort of sicko) and reading books about them.