The Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and its amazing 'White City' was one of the most spectacular the world has ever seen. This is the incredible story of its realization, and of the two men whose fates it linked, an architect and a serial killer. The architect was Daniel H. Burnham, the chief builder of the White City, who created a magical landscape of white buildings set in a wonderland of canals and gardens. The killer was H. H. Holmes, a handsome young doctor with striking blue eyes. He used the attraction of the great ...
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The Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and its amazing 'White City' was one of the most spectacular the world has ever seen. This is the incredible story of its realization, and of the two men whose fates it linked, an architect and a serial killer. The architect was Daniel H. Burnham, the chief builder of the White City, who created a magical landscape of white buildings set in a wonderland of canals and gardens. The killer was H. H. Holmes, a handsome young doctor with striking blue eyes. He used the attraction of the great fair - and his own devilish charms - to lure scores of young women to their death. Holmes would stroll through the fair at night, when an electric dynamo transformed it into an incandescent fairyland, with his unsuspecting victims on either arm. While Burnham overcame politics, personality clashes and the fatal Chicago winds to bring together the creative talents of his architectural team in the transformation of swampy Jackson Park into the White City, Holmes was busy constructing his own edifice just west of the fairgrounds. He called it the World's Fair Hotel and designed it to be a torture palace, complete with gas chamber and crematorium. Burnham, Holmes, and a colourful cast leap off the page of this magnificent story, as Buffalo Bill, George Ferris, Thomas Edison, and some 27 million others converge on the dazzling spectacle of the White City. Erik Larson's gifts as a story-teller are magnificently displayed in this mesmerizing tale of the legendary Fair that captured the spirit of America at the dawn of the Twentieth Century.
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Add this copy of The Devil in the White City to cart. $19.19, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Thorndike Press.
Add this copy of The Devil in the White City to cart. $19.19, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Thorndike Press.
Add this copy of The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness to cart. $63.22, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Thorndike Pr.
This is a fantastic work of historical non-fiction. Erik Larson's write style reads like fiction due to his in depth research into his subjects. This book is a tale of victory against almost insurmountable odds. It focuses on the design, building and presentation of the Chicago World's Fair. The book also tells the chilling story of a ins... ane serial killer who just might be the devil himself. The juxtaposition of the two main characters, Frank Burnham and Mr. Holmes, is both intriguing and chilling at the same time. Do yourself a favor and pick up this little glimpse of forgotten history. You'll be happy you did.
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weneedrain
Jan 19, 2012
wonderful history of the fair
the epilogue is most interesting as it follows up with the persons who built the fairl Look up World Fairs List and you will see the impact that the succeeding fairs have had.Very well written. There is a photographic book that is separate and it would be good to have that book as you read this one.Lots to think about
Sav123
Dec 30, 2009
An Amazing Experience
It's ironic that I can't find the words to fully describe how amazing this book is. It's a tour de force of literature.
It carefully weaves the story of the 1983 World's Fair (where pretty much everything ever and everyone ever came together in Chicago) and the diabolical HH Holmes.
I expected the story of HH Holmes to be w... ildly more interesting than building some dumb fair. I was so wrong. These historical figures come to life in such a way that when you finish the last page, I hope you don't have any heart conditions and you're sitting down. This book is like a punch in the gut.
HH Holmes is the most believable, well rounded villain I've ever encountered. You're almost suckered in by his charm, even after you know his secrets. The fair quickly becomes your own labor of love. You watch as this Americans try to compete with the Eiffel tower - and what they come up with was shocking.
This book is fantastic. If you're still thinking to yourself "well, maybe..." no. Buy it. If you're looking for a gift for anyone, buy it. Trust me.
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cjr3503
Apr 12, 2009
Fascinating Historical Storytelling
The story of how America's most prolific serial killer used the nations greatest engineering accomplishment to carry out his nefarious deeds.
Murder, ambition, intrigue, and the indomitable American spirit juxtapose perfectly in this tale of both the good and evil within man.
Every detail has been painstakingly researched and the ... narrative crafted with ever growing suspense and bewilderment.
Nearly impossible to put down.
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