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The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

Author:
Erik Larson
Read by:
Scott Brick
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Unabridged Audiobook

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Ratings
Book
981
Narrator
92
Release Date
October 17, 2002
Duration
15 hours 0 minutes
Summary
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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.

A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Century

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 a time of magic and majesty, 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.
Reviews
Profile Avatar Quinn K Dec 2017

This book was false advertising. I thought it would be a suspenseful novel about murder, scandal and secrets and instead it was literally a 15 hour novel about building a fair. The overwhelming majority of the novel was about architecture. I loved the potential of this book but it didn’t deliver and was a waste of time.

Profile Avatar Kathleen S. May 2019

I found this pat of our history fascinating. All the great Americans who came together to transform Chicago and show off the things that where coming in the new century. The murderer interwoven was a lift to the fairs story. I highly recommend this book.

Profile Avatar Ariel Burton Jun 2016

I enjoyed reading the book but enjoyed it even more so having it read to me.

Profile Avatar Jon N. Jan 2022

Absolutely love this book! I was initially sucked into it because I am a Chicago native but ultimately fell in love with it because of how well it was written and how the author kept you on your toes by alternating between the different paths of Holmes and organizers of the 1893 Worlds Fair. I can’t say enough about this book as I will just become long winded and blow the plot lines therefore, I’ll just say I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who is a lover of history yet, enjoys a good story! If that makes any sense lol!

Profile Avatar Terryl D. Jan 2021

I’ve read this book and I listen to audio books. I think your entire production, spot on!!

Profile Avatar Sabrina B. May 2018

Really not my favorite at all.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Jan 2018

Very good story. Gave a side and insight to history that is never seen.

Profile Avatar Michelle S Jun 2017

A very long and drawn out book that seems more focused on the erection of The World Fair and it's many plans and developments as it is a "thriller" . Still interesting but not great.

Profile Avatar jennifer jones Mar 2016

Interesting subject matter and deeply researched by the author as evidenced in the minutiae of details. Trying to figure out the tie between the story of the world fair and the murders that took place in and around the same time period, as that was the only relationship. Gave up many times, but finished it so I could learn of final judgment of Holmes. A very challenging story to get through. I enjoyed the narrator. If you are into a detailed account, I.e., down to the last details of the world fair hospital and an accounting of what illnesses and how many cases of said illnesses, and like details- you will love this book.

Profile Avatar Lauren D. Aug 2024

A little slow, but absolutely excellent

Profile Avatar Anonymous Apr 2024

This seems to be a tale of Architecture as opposed to a crime story . I suppose Architects would be more interested in such things, however for the laymen it is way too much. Holmes seems to be a secondary character to the Architecture storyline. Disappointing to say the least. It won't make a good movie unless you are used to droll subject matter. I give it a C minus.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Nov 2023

Read it years ago, and was a great book. Even better in audio.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Aug 2023

fairly interesting story but written like a history textbook. the narrator was ok but when I turned it up to 2x speed it was incomprehensible

Profile Avatar Susan M. Jun 2023

I wanted to read this book many years ago when it was first published. Finally got around to it in audio and Larson's writing and the apparently abundant research behind it did not disappoint! Excellent narration, too.

Profile Avatar Brian B. Jan 2023

I thought this was to be a murder/drama, what I got was a book about every boring detail about a fair nobody cares about. By the end of this miserable read you will be able to describe every blade of grass, every Nook and cranny at the fair but very little about the actual murders that took place. #garbage

Profile Avatar Kevin H Dec 2022

Excellent story line, horrific story at times, but absolutely riveting! Scott's narration was nothing short of awesome.

Profile Avatar Rod B. Feb 2022

Way too long and extraneous details not necessary to the dialogue of the story. Still a great listen.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Dec 2021

Great story

Profile Avatar Jswit Jul 2021

Very interesting look into the massive plans and execution of them in regards to having a world’s fair in a western city. Less about HH Holmes than I expected but still very well written fluid book.

Profile Avatar Jerome L. May 2021

Didn't like it. Not that into 12 of architecture porn

Profile Avatar QueenDread222 Mar 2021

The book was a good read. Mostly about the world trade fair and I was expecting more about Holmes. Not dissatisfied in what was given and learned, but I wish Holmes had taken more of a focused role.

Profile Avatar Cassandra C. Sep 2020

Awesome story Very creepy and extremely interesting

Profile Avatar Matt M. Jul 2020

I found both the subject matter and the narration to be outstanding. There is a lot of detail in this book and that might be not be everybody’s cup of tea but I found it very interesting and quite compelling.

Profile Avatar Anitra T. Feb 2020

Facts and history of early 1900’s well done.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Nov 2019

I missed the trees for the forest. Loads of good detail that I couldn’t get into because I felt the structure of the parallel narratives, going back and forth, was too annoying.

Profile Avatar Jennifer T May 2018

It wasnt what I thought it would be, but I enjoyed it all the same. The story of the logistics of the fair was drawn out too much, and while the events of the fair and the serial killer were simultaneously happening, the details surrounding the killings got lost in the details of the fair.

Profile Avatar Alicia M Jul 2017

It was fun to hear about the historical architecture of the world's fair but I thought it was going to be more of a novel style book and a thriller. Instead it was someone reading me a history book.

Profile Avatar Matthew Rioux Jan 2017

Great book about a great city!

Profile Avatar Josie Sturdivant Aug 2016

Loved the book and it's history. Audio is the way to go made our road trip perfect!

Profile Avatar Natalie Magleby Jun 2016

I tried reading this book and had a hard time staying engaged. Much better having it in audio. Lots of interesting facts and well read.

Profile Avatar Lyndsey Craig May 2016

Very interesting read--particularly for those familiar with the Chicago area. Learned a lot about the history of the city and landmarks I pass by each day. The narrator really makes it!

Profile Avatar LaMarr Anderson May 2016

Interesting story of the history for 1893's Chicago World's Fair. My prior knowledge of this history was non-existent so I found it a very worthwhile history lesson. Even learned how our now standard carnival Farris wheel came about! The interwoven parallel story of evil was sobering and saddening, but added intrigue for continued reading. At the end, there was unnecessarily gory descriptions and narrative. The narration was great! Bottom Line...an interesting book but is not at the upper end of my list of recommended books.. .

Profile Avatar Frank Hoffman Feb 2016

We listened to this book on our way from to Tampa and throughout our time in Tampa. It was gripping, entertaining, and unnerving all at once. The historical backdrop of the Columbian Exposition (the World's Fair) of 1893 in Chicago was fascinating, particularly for a born Chicagoan from the South Side. I spent a lot of time in my youth traveling to and enjoying Jackson Park and the Midway. The juxtaposition of the lead up to the decision for Chicago to be awarded the Fair, and its development, while listening to the dreadful exploits of Holmes was mind-boggling. Both stories running parallel to each other kept us waiting for the the next part of the story. Well written!

Profile Avatar alban flores Dec 2015

This book was well written and investigated historically. sure it was in detail but I think that is what makes this very interesting having been in Chicago many many times it gives you great appreciation of the places talking about. on my next short trip there which is only an hour away I'll look at Jackson Park and the the Museum of Science and Industry in a new light. this story is great for people like myself who are into history.

Profile Avatar Tina Perez Oct 2015

I have to agree with JoJo13 review, far too many details about the World's Fair. I lost interest, but continued to listen to the end. Thanks to Scott Brick for keeping my interest. Scott is definitely one of my favorite narrator.

Profile Avatar sander rubin Sep 2015

not as interesting as i had hoped, but overall well paced and extremely detailed

Profile Avatar Jasmine Alleger Aug 2015

I did not think I would like this book because it likes voice in the writings but the story was so fascinating I couldn't stop talking about it.

Profile Avatar Jonathan Kesler Jul 2015

Incredible content and structure. Very relevant to common capitalism and social dialogue.

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

Author: Erik Larson
Read by: Scott Brick
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