The Devil in the White City in Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library

Apr 10, 2014 Chris Blocker rated it liked it · review of another edition

The story of the World's Columbian Exposition (the 1893 Chicago World's Fair) and the events surrounding it are fascinating. It is these events and the shocking details surrounding H.H. Holmes that likely lead so many people to love this book. It is the sort of story many novelist would have loved to have devised themselves. Unfortunately, while the story is interesting, too much of The Devil in the White City rests on speculation, and this left me uncomfortable.

Again we approach that line of de The story of the World's Columbian Exposition (the 1893 Chicago World's Fair) and the events surrounding it are fascinating. It is these events and the shocking details surrounding H.H. Holmes that likely lead so many people to love this book. It is the sort of story many novelist would have loved to have devised themselves. Unfortunately, while the story is interesting, too much of The Devil in the White City rests on speculation, and this left me uncomfortable.

Again we approach that line of defining fiction and non-fiction. Does it matter if a work of non-fiction takes liberties? Probably not. But the issue is that when a storyteller purports to tell the truth, one expects the truth. All further additions are distracting. Personally, I enjoy these narrative non-fictions that add color and flavor to the traditional textbook story. I'm okay with some flair. Where I become uncomfortable is when the author adds thoughts and actions to “characters” he couldn't possibly know, especially in regards to their final moments. The actions and last thoughts of Holmes' victims are cemented forever by Larson's speculations. The lack of distinction between truth and fiction was troubling. In the conclusion Larson labels some of these speculations and tries to provide rationale for their inclusion, but it changed nothing for me.

Were Larson's inventions style or lack of material? It could've been either, but I do think there is a certain lack of solid material for the book. It felt as though the author was grasping at any threads he could build his book from. Had Larson stuck with what he knew from historical records, I get the feeling that the sections on Holmes in particular would've been thin. And without Holmes, this book wouldn't be the success it has become.

In the end, I credit Larson for uncovering a brilliant story and knowing how to make it interesting for the masses. Even removing the serial killer aspect of the story, The Devil in the White City is captivating; in truth, I'd say I found other aspects of the Fair much more interesting, in particular the Ferris wheel and the landscape architecture of Olmsted. ...more

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Jan 26, 2010 Melanie rated it it was amazing

Got this through my book club and really enjoyed it. It is about building the Chicago World's Fair to out-Eifel the previous World's Fair held in Paris which debuted the Eifel Tower. There is also a serial killer. The book switches between the two main character making this book very hard to put down. ...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Nathan rated it it was amazing

Loved this book, and will definitely try another one of Larson's books in the not too distant future. Not only do you learn all about America's first documented serial killer, H.H. Holmes, but his story is intertwined with the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and all the craziness that went into making that happen. I think I especially enjoyed it because I'm familiar with Chicago having grown up not far from there. In fact, I found out that the current Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, which I ...more

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Dec 16, 2014 Katey rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction

In all honesty, I didn't finish this book, but I got close. I didn't like it too much. I couldn't follow the story very well, because it would put me to sleep. ...more

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