The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America free download online
Title: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America Author(s): Erik Larson Pages: 700 Publisher: Vintage Publication date: 2004 Language: English Format: LIT ISBN-10: 0375725601 ISBN-13: Description: Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book's categorization to be sure that The Devil in the White City is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Larson tells the stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair's construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor. Burnham's challenge was immense. In a short period of time, he was forced to overcome the death of his partner and numerous other obstacles to construct the famous "White City" around which the fair was built. His efforts to complete the project, and the fair's incredible success, are skillfully related along with entertaining appearances by such notables as Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, and Thomas Edison. The activities of the sinister Dr. Holmes, who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair, are equally remarkable. He devised and erected the World's Fair Hotel, complete with crematorium and gas chamber, near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims. Combining the stories of an architect and a killer in one book, mostly in alternating chapters, seems like an odd choice but it works. The magical appeal and horrifying dark side of 19th-century Chicago are both revealed through Larson's skillful writing. --John Moe
The book is both true crime and historical in nature. Mr. Larson has chosen the setting of Chicago in the late 1800's as his subject. The supporting cast is the famous World's Fair (which brings us the first Ferris Wheel) and the infamous H.H.Holmes (who brings us the first American serial killer). Holmes will be remembered as the "doctor" who built a castle of torture in the windy city and almost successfully got away with multiple murder. This edition of the World Fair will be remembered as the one that almost wasn't. Mr. Larson has done a meticulous job in researching and documenting every aspect of this book. He juxtaposes history with true crime every other chapter, keeping the readers interest in both subjects.
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America free download links:
Title: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America