The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

“As absorbing a piece of popular history as one will ever hope to find.” —San Francisco Chronicle

Through meticulous research and riveting storytelling, Larson weaves a narrative that blends the wonder of newly discovered history with the excitement of the best fiction.

Two men, each brilliant in his own right, represent the contrasting forces of America’s turn toward the twentieth century. Daniel Hudson Burnham, the fair’s visionary director of works, overcame enormous challenges to design and build the iconic White City, working with legendary figures like Frederick Law Olmsted, Charles McKim, and Louis Sullivan. Meanwhile, Dr. Henry H. Holmes, a charming but sinister young physician, built his “World’s Fair Hotel” nearby—an eerie murder palace featuring a gas chamber, a dissection table, and a 3,000-degree crematorium, where he lured and killed young women.

While Burnham created one of the country’s most remarkable architectural achievements, Holmes stalked the fairgrounds, hiding his horrific crimes behind the grandeur of the event. This true story is made even more unsettling by the fact that Holmes walked among the fair’s visitors, using his sinister charisma to mask his true intentions.

In The Devil in the White City, Larson immerses readers in the Gilded Age, with a cast of historical figures such as Buffalo Bill, Theodore Dreiser, Susan B. Anthony, Thomas Edison, and even Archduke Francis Ferdinand, adding depth to the narrative. Larson’s exceptional storytelling brings to life the master builder, the diabolical killer, and the fair that linked them in a dark, unforgettable tale.