Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - The Devil in the White City : Murder, Magic, Madness, and the Fair that Changed America

The Devil in the White City : Murder, Magic, Madness, and the Fair that Changed America
The Devil in the White City Murder Magic Madness and the Fair that Changed America
Author: Erik Larson
Two men, each handsome and unusually adept at his chosen work, embodied an element of the great dynamic that characterized America’s rush toward the twentieth century. The architect was Daniel Hudson Burnham, the fair’s brilliant director of works and the builder of many of the country’s most important structures, including the...  more »
Audio Books swap for two (2) credits.
ISBN-13: 9780739323595
ISBN-10: 0739323598
Publication Date: 5/3/2005
Edition: Abridged
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 29

3.8 stars, based on 29 ratings
Publisher: RH Audio
Book Type: Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

wandagirl avatar reviewed The Devil in the White City : Murder, Magic, Madness, and the Fair that Changed America on + 41 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is quite an interesting book from many aspects. Characters are carefully created and many are based on fact. The time setting is true and Larson gives nice details which lend the reader to the feeling of "being there". I learned much I did not know about Chicago and the Fair and the people of the time as well as the state of our country and the world. Brought together with mystery....This is a good one. :)
reviewed The Devil in the White City : Murder, Magic, Madness, and the Fair that Changed America on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of my favorite books of all time. It is a true story, but reads like a novel.

The happier part of the story is about the Chicago World's Fair in the 1890s, a fascinating extravaganza to show the world that Chicago was as sophisticated as New York or Paris. The White City was a cutting-edge product of the best then available in electric lighting, landscaping and design. It also featured the first Ferris Wheel, something more akin to the London Eye than to your average amusement park Ferris Wheel.

(My grandfather attended this fair and told me about it when I was about 13 years old and he was at least 90, so I had a huge curiosity about it. )

The sinister side of this story is also true, and unfolds like a horror story. I will not go into it, but if you are fond of true crime, this will definitely hold your attention!
Read All 6 Book Reviews of "The Devil in the White City Murder Magic Madness and the Fair that Changed America"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

reviewed The Devil in the White City : Murder, Magic, Madness, and the Fair that Changed America on + 7 more book reviews
This book jumps back and forth between two story lines that are happening at the same time and in the same place. I found it a bit confusing at times to keep up with the characters in both.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was an interesting historical novel. A little gruesome in places, but not overly so.
reviewed The Devil in the White City : Murder, Magic, Madness, and the Fair that Changed America on
I got this because I had a long drive and everyone recommended the book. It was very entertaining and well narrated. I haven't read the book so I'm not sure how much of it was abridged, it seemed complete to me.


Genres: