Erin
asked
Erik Larson:
The first book I read of yours was "Devil in the White City", I'm curious how you ever came to know who Herman Mudgett was? Until I read your book I'd never heard of him.
Erik Larson
I had started exploring the idea of doing a book about a historical murder, and took out a book called--wait for it--The Encyclopedia of Murder. I started reading at "A." Somewhere I came across Holmes, either at "H," or at "M" for Mudgett. But, at that point, I really had no interest in writing about him--I didn't want to write crime porn. So, I went off exploring something else. A rather complex series of circumstances brought me back to him, and to the world's fair of 1893.
More Answered Questions
Chris
asked
Erik Larson:
I recieved an advance copy of Dead Wake through Read It Forward and have been preparing a review, when for a different reason I picked up Edgar Rice Burroughs' The Land That Time Forgot. I was struck by the similarities between the U-33 sinking the ship and the U-20 sinking the Lusitania, and wondered if you have ever read this particular Burroughs novel, which was published in 1918?
James Poch
asked
Erik Larson:
Erik: I am a big fan of your work and look forward to reading Dead Wake. A few years ago the UKs Daily Mail reported that divers had explored the Lusitania wreck and found that the ship was carrying secret war material as the Germans had alleged all the time. Carrying the war material lead some to believe that it was a valid target. Does your book address this find and opinion? Thank you again for your work.
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