The Devil in the White City : Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
 

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America (Vintage)

by Erik Larson

True Crime, Chicago World's Fair (read review)

Top tags: historynonfictiontrue crimechicagonon-fiction (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
Coyotemusic
  • Rated 4 stars

I never thought I'd consider a book primarily about architecture enthralling, but this book is amazingly so.

This book is in no way my typical fare. While I love to read historical fiction, I tend to stay away from History because I find it difficult to read. I need a story. This novel had a gripping story. It was fascinating, well researched and always left you wanting more.

I defy anybody to read this book and not wish they too could attend the World's Columbian...

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Didn’t Like It

Tracy B
  • Rated 1 stars

Didn't love the writing style. My book club was 50/50 on it.

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Community:
  • Rated 4.035014 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.5 stars
 

Newest Comments

  • Rikki

    rikki said:

    I had to read this for one of my college history classes and I have to admit, this is the first book I enjoyed that I was forced to read. Normally I don't care much for reading history textbooks (pretty sad for a history education minor huh? ^^ ) but this kept me intrigued He told everything with as much accuracy as possible but told it as though, to me anyway, it was fiction. I admit that it was slow going in some places, but you find that with almost every book out there. I just know I learned a lot from this book for my class that I don't think I would have without it. That's all that matters to me, if I learned something.

    posted Monday, August 11 2008
  • The Artist FKA Hoopidy Fly Pimp Mac Daddy Re-Kleiner O-19er Coming In For A Landing Boy He's A Hella Fresh Taco Bell Connoisseur
  • ctmock

    ctmock said:

    Boring!

    posted Sunday, July 6 2008
  • Stuart Clark

    stuart clark said:

    Hey nikkis, that's neat!

    I agree with agnes01. I think the serial killer aspects of the book were really what drove it forward - I was much more interested in getting back to that subplot than I was learning all about the fair (which is pretty sad really). Without the serial killer story in there I think it would have been quite a dull book, but as it was, I enjoyed it.

    posted Thursday, May 22 2008 ( | view 1 reply )
  • nikkis

    nikkis said:

    To see this amazing simulation of what the White City looked like, see this research project conducted by UCLA's Urban Simulation Team. It is amazing!
    http://www.ust.ucla.edu/ustweb/Projects/columbian_expo.htm

    posted Thursday, May 22 2008
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