The Devil in the White City in Bound Together

Feb 02, 2013 Carol rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: history, true-crime, read-2015, favorites, non-fiction

This is really a great read filled with meticulously researched historical facts and notable people of the time. Even Helen Keller made an appearance at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair! Alternating chapters educate the reader about the enormous undertaking and time constraints of building "The White City" combined with the daily bloodthirsty activities of serial killer Herman Webster Mudgett aka Dr. H. H. Holmes.

Reading about B. H. Burnham's construction of the fair during a time of deadly disease

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Jun 05, 2015 Alana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: history, biographical, thriller-horror

Writing this for the second time after my browser decided to shut itself done when I was finishing my last sentence the first time...

I happened to read this after reading The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor last year and just a few weeks ago Stephen King's Apt Pupil. The psychopathic mannerisms of King's characters and the amazing manipulative abilities of "Mr. Rockefeller" are all rolled into one in the true-life character of Dr. H.H. Writing this for the second time after my browser decided to shut itself done when I was finishing my last sentence the first time...

I happened to read this after reading The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor last year and just a few weeks ago Stephen King's Apt Pupil. The psychopathic mannerisms of King's characters and the amazing manipulative abilities of "Mr. Rockefeller" are all rolled into one in the true-life character of Dr. H.H. Holmes (which, of course, is an alias). The complete lack of any conscience and the matter-of-fact, scientific way he goes about his plots and eventual murders would be entirely incredible if not for the copious amounts of evidence to back it up. Reading about him literally give me chills and the creeps. It's enough to make you nervous about anyone who's ever overly kind to you.

The juxtaposition of Holmes' "Murder Castle" and the building of the White City of Chicago's World's Fair was brilliantly written and utterly fascinating. Both show the incredible technologies of the age, but used to very different purpose.

I found the history of Chicago and the assembling of the World's Fair in particular to be completely riveting. I had no idea how many people were involved in the construction, planning, designing, and politics of the thing. So many technologies were advanced and new ideas were developed. I had forgotten that the Ferris Wheel was introduced at the Fair, and like many other wonders, was developed specifically for the Fair. The history, while detailed, doesn't get too bogged down in its details, but vividly paints the picture of the world's (and locals) mentality of the time and how life has changed since then.

Larson doesn't go into gruesome detail of Holmes' exploits, but what he describes gives plenty for the mind to imagine and the images are not for the faint of heart. Other than that, however, I completely recommend it to anyone who's remotely interested in American or world history.

4.5/5 ...more

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Jul 11, 2025 Mandy rated it liked it

I did like this book and generally enjoy Larson's books. I just had a little harder time with this one because I often do additional research because I get interested in the material. Well, more recent articles state that maybe some of the information that was believed to be true (regarding Holmes), was just exaggerations by the media. So it just tainted my enjoyment a little bit. 3.5 stars. ...more

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