"Devil in the White City"
Erik Larson
I have only one regret about this book: I wish I had read it before I moved to Chicago. It would’ve compounded my excitement for the city exponentially.
This is a truly brilliant work of historical non-fiction. Erik Larson has long been praised for his masterful storytelling, but The Devil in the White City might just be his best yet. Without spoiling much for those who haven’t yet read it, the book weaves together two seemingly unrelated narratives: the grand ambition and architectural marvels behind the 1893 World’s Fair, and the chilling acts of America’s first known serial killer, H.H. Holmes.
It is not simply the subject matter that makes this book so compelling, it's the way that Larson makes the past feel present. The World's Fair (officially, the World’s Columbian Exposition) becomes a character in its own right: full of wonder, tension, and staggering scale. In contrast, Holmes’ story is deeply disturbing, running like a shadow beside the Fair’s glow.
Where Larson truly shines is in his refusal to fabricate drama. He finds it—buried in archives, memoirs, and footnotes—and brings it to life with precision. The result is a book that reads like a thriller but leaves you brimming with historical insight (and possibly ready to win your next trivia night).
If you're interested in Chicago, I recommend this book. If you like history, I recommend this book. If you enjoy slow-burn killer stories, I recommend this book. If the World's Fair intrigues you, read this book. And if you're interested in the history of the Chicago World's Fair and the serial killer who operated in its shadow—well, you’ve probably already read this book.
This is a truly brilliant work of historical non-fiction. Erik Larson has long been praised for his masterful storytelling, but The Devil in the White City might just be his best yet. Without spoiling much for those who haven’t yet read it, the book weaves together two seemingly unrelated narratives: the grand ambition and architectural marvels behind the 1893 World’s Fair, and the chilling acts of America’s first known serial killer, H.H. Holmes.
It is not simply the subject matter that makes this book so compelling, it's the way that Larson makes the past feel present. The World's Fair (officially, the World’s Columbian Exposition) becomes a character in its own right: full of wonder, tension, and staggering scale. In contrast, Holmes’ story is deeply disturbing, running like a shadow beside the Fair’s glow.
Where Larson truly shines is in his refusal to fabricate drama. He finds it—buried in archives, memoirs, and footnotes—and brings it to life with precision. The result is a book that reads like a thriller but leaves you brimming with historical insight (and possibly ready to win your next trivia night).
If you're interested in Chicago, I recommend this book. If you like history, I recommend this book. If you enjoy slow-burn killer stories, I recommend this book. If the World's Fair intrigues you, read this book. And if you're interested in the history of the Chicago World's Fair and the serial killer who operated in its shadow—well, you’ve probably already read this book.
🌙🌙🌙
Considering this is technically a history book, it had no business being this gripping. I stayed up flipping pages about architecture and murder—sometimes in the same paragraph.
Considering this is technically a history book, it had no business being this gripping. I stayed up flipping pages about architecture and murder—sometimes in the same paragraph.
☕☕☕
You’ll want a few cups—not because it’s dull, but because it’s dense. Larson doesn’t waste a sentence, and it takes just the right amount of caffeine to follow all his threads.
You’ll want a few cups—not because it’s dull, but because it’s dense. Larson doesn’t waste a sentence, and it takes just the right amount of caffeine to follow all his threads.