Review of The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Unlike most of the books I review, The Devil in the White City (Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2004) is a work of non-fiction. However, Erik Larson certainly weaves a narrative worthy of a fictional book. Intertwining the stories of the Chicago World’s Fair with that of serial killer H. H. Holmes, the story makes stops in the dirty details of Chicago politics and architecture.
The primary story is that of the Chicago World’s Fair, focusing on the architects involved in its design and construction, the myriad delays and problems they encountered, and the ultimate accomplishment of a huge and successful World’s Fair. At the same time, the narrative examines how the influx of people to the city allowed for someone like H. H. Holmes to prey upon unsuspecting victims, the full number of which may never be determined.
Larson is skilled at depicting the historical figures he writes about, while also painting a picture of the sights of the World’s Fair. Though this is a popular history of the topics, and Larson admits to stretching the truth in places, particularly as regards Holmes (who himself stretched the truth about his crimes), it has evidence of thorough research and analysis. I might have preferred more obvious footnotes or endnotes, but that is primarily because as a historian, I know that’s often where some of the best bits can be hidden.
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