#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Splendid and the Vile comes the true tale of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and the cunning serial killer who used the magic and majesty of the fair to lure his victims to their death. “As absorbing a piece of popular history as one will ever hope to find.” —San Francisco Chronicle A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Century • A Los Angeles Times Best Nonfiction Book of the Last 30 Years 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. Two men, each handsome and unusually adept at his chosen work, embodied an element of the great dynamic that characterized America’s rush toward the twentieth century. The architect was Daniel Hudson Burnham, the fair’s brilliant director of works and the builder of many of the country’s most important structures, including the Flatiron Building in New York and Union Station in Washington, D.C. The murderer was Henry H. Holmes, a young doctor who, in a malign parody of the White City, built his “World’s Fair Hotel” just west of the fairgrounds—a torture palace complete with dissection table, gas chamber, and 3,000-degree crematorium. Burnham overcame tremendous obstacles and tragedies as he organized the talents of Frederick Law Olmsted, Charles McKim, Louis Sullivan, and others to transform swampy Jackson Park into the White City, while Holmes used the attraction of the great fair and his own satanic charms to lure scores of young women to their deaths. What makes the story all the more chilling is that Holmes really lived, walking the grounds of that dream city by the lake. The Devil in the White City draws the reader into the enchantment of the Guilded Age, made all the more appealing by a supporting cast of real-life characters, including Buffalo Bill, Theodore Dreiser, Susan B. Anthony, Thomas Edison, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, and others. Erik Larson’s gifts as a storyteller are magnificently displayed in this rich narrative of the master builder, the killer, and the great fair that obsessed them both.
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About the author
Erik Larson
Author
Erik or Eric Larson may refer to:Eric Larson (1905–1988), Disney animator Erik Larson (author), American author Erik Larson, former American figure skater Erik J. Larson, American computer scientist Erik Larson, guitarist in Alabama Thunderpussy
The Devil in the White City
by Erik Larson
Books Like The Devil in the White City
If you're looking for books similar to The Devil in the White City, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
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A groundbreaking true crime narrative that explores a brutal murder in Kansas. Like Larson's work, it blends meticulous research with compelling storytelling. The book examines the killers, their victims, and the social context of the crime. It offers a deep psychological exploration of criminal behavior and societal dynamics.
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A meticulously researched true crime narrative about a series of murders of Osage Native Americans. The book uncovers a complex conspiracy and early FBI investigation. It shares Larson's approach of revealing hidden historical narratives. The story exposes systemic racism and criminal intrigue.
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Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
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A non-fiction work that reads like a novel, set in Savannah, Georgia. The book investigates a real murder while painting a vivid portrait of a unique community. It shares Larson's approach of blending historical detail with narrative tension. The story explores local characters and a complex criminal investigation.
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Another Larson book exploring a historical tragedy, focusing on the sinking of the Lusitania. The book combines historical research with narrative storytelling. It reveals the human stories behind a significant historical event. The narrative provides multiple perspectives on a complex moment in history.
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A true crime book by a former FBI profiler examining serial killers. Like 'The Devil in the White City', it delves into the psychology of murderers. The book provides insights into criminal behavior and investigation techniques. It offers a chilling look at the minds of dangerous criminals.
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