Book Reviews: Book Review of The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson -- Blue Rectangle

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The Devil in the White City

Erik Larson

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"I read The Devil in the White City primarily because I'd seen the review of it in the San Francisco Chronicle - it's actually a review that's quoted on the cover of the edition of the book that I have - and it just sounded like a very fascinating story. When you can find silvers of history that are just - haven't been revealed or just normally wouldn't come up in your studying of American history, I find that really rewarding. The whole concept that there was a profound depression in the early 1980's, probably greater than The Great Depression, and in the midst of it there was this World's Fair that was held in Chicago. You hear about it from time to time - that's where the first Ferris wheel was, it's why we have the term "midway" - but in general, the whole story about how the fair was built, how some people just worked to death trying to get it together. The other intriguing aspect of this whole book is the story of H.H. Holmes, this psycho who was luring single women into this web of ultimately murder. From the review, I thought that Eric Larson was gonna spin these tales together. I have to admit I was disappointed. He seems to be promising at the beginning this gothic, almost ghost story type thing about how the building of this fair enabled this fiend to prey on young women, when in fact, honestly, there was just a chronological correlation there. Anyone with a fascination for history, architecture, your people who like serial killers, yeah; but anyone is gonna find it an interesting read just for the detail in it. I would give The Devil in the White City three stars. It's a good read; again, it just didn't have the payoff that I thought it was gonna have."