Alright, folks, grab your reading glasses and strap them on because this week’s book, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, is a wild, breathtaking ride. It’s 1893 in Chicago, and Larson takes us to a time when grit, determination, and a fair bit of insanity reigned supreme. Equal parts history lesson, page-turner, horror show, and inspiration, this book is the ultimate double feature. You’ve got triumph and tragedy, light and dark, and enough twists to keep even the savviest true crime junkies guessing.
On one side of the story, you have Daniel Burnham, the architectural genius tasked with an impossible mission. Build a World’s Fair in Chicago that would outshine Paris and its Eiffel Tower.
Make it bigger, make it brighter, make it unforgettable. Oh, and do it in less time than it takes most of us to pick a paint color for the living room. Talk about pressure!
On the flip side, there’s Dr. H.H. Holmes—easily one of the most chilling figures to ever roam the Earth! Holmes didn’t just attend the fair; he turned it into his personal playground of horrors.
I won’t spoil all the grisly details, but let’s just say his charm and sinister talent for manipulation made him the last person you’d want your daughter introducing as her new boyfriend!
A Harrowing Build-Up
Now, before Burnham could even think about showing the world what Chicago had to offer, he had to actually…… well build it!. Sounds simple, right? Wrong!
You see, this wasn’t just any fair. Burnham was working with a vision that could only be described as colossal. What he and his team had to pull off was nothing short of a miracle. Ironically, that miracle started with chaos.
And when I say chaos, I mean death-defying chaos. Thousands of workers lost their lives constructing the fair. Occupational safety? Pretty much nonexistent. These men worked at dizzying heights, in brutal weather, with danger lurking at every corner. Steel beams, tools, cranes—they were dealing with accidents that would make an OSHA representative faint on the spot. Reading about the conditions really makes you stop and appreciate how far we’ve come with basic workplace safety.
Then there’s the looming deadline. Burnham wasn’t just trying to meet expectations—he was out to crush them. The fair had to be bigger and grander than what Paris pulled off in 1889 with the Eiffel Tower.
What did Chicago have to show them up? Enter the Ferris wheel. The Ferris freaking wheel, people!
Think about it—burning through trial after trial, sketch after sketch, they landed on this engineering marvel that could literally outshine the Eiffel Tower. The Ferris wheel not only became a breakout star of the fair but also showed the world just how innovative and daring Americans could be. At this point, you’re practically fist-pumping on Burnham’s behalf.
The Pull to Make Chicago Shine
But why Chicago? Why pour so much energy and money into one event? That’s the beauty of this book! It takes you back to a time when cities were fighting tooth and nail for recognition, and pride often meant more than logic. Chicago had to show the world it wasn’t just recovering from its infamous Great Fire of 1871 (which basically leveled the city); it was rising stronger than ever.
This fair wasn’t just a series of exhibits and rides. It was a massive flex of human capability.
Look what we can do!
Look what we’ll become!
Larson expertly illustrates how ferocious competition drove the innovation and brilliance of that era. Determination triumphed over common sense, and that’s what made this story so enthralling.
Take, for example, the audacity of a Texas woman who reportedly WALKED over 3,000 miles to attend the fair.
3,000 miles! Can you imagine? Most of us can barely walk the dog five blocks without debating Ubering back. Her relentless determination mirrors the energy of the time—people weren’t just surviving, they were chasing dreams, conquering fears, and absolutely breaking the mold of what was possible.
The Harsh Reality of the Era
Life in this era wasn’t glamorous—this wasn’t exactly the age of luxury travel or DoorDash deliveries. Larson doesn’t hold back when depicting just how rough life was for the average person. The streets were dirty, diseases spread like wildfire, and even something simple like traveling to Chicago for the fair was a monumental feat. And yet, people showed up—millions of them—hungry for innovation, entertainment, or maybe just a spark of hope.
It’s such an astounding contrast, though, between the light and progress Burnham created and the darkness that Holmes harbored. The same streets that bustled with visitors admiring cutting-edge exhibits and marveling at the fair’s electric light displays also hid the paths of Holmes’ victims, many of whom came to Chicago seeking a better life only to meet tragedy at the hands of this evil genius in human form. That contrast is what makes this tale so haunting and impossible to forget.
A Hauntingly Epic Read
The Devil in the White City is one of those books that sits with you. It gets under your skin in the best way possible. Admittedly, it took me a beat longer than usual to get into the story. The beginning feels like Larson is playing cartographer, mapping out every detail and giving readers all they need to know about the time, the stakes, and the main characters. Those early chapters felt a bit slow, but once the gears started turning? Whoa!
By the time Burnham and his team started defying the odds, you’re cheering. When the Ferris wheel becomes the gravitational centerpiece of the fair, you’re grinning ear-to-ear. And when Holmes’ twisted activities are revealed, trust me, you’ll be reading with the lights on. It’s a master class in weaving historical intrigue with nail-biting suspense.
My Final Take
Believe me when I say, this book was a ride and a half. My favorite part? Learning about the insane feats of engineering, ingenuity, and ambition packed into the fair’s creation. The Ferris wheel backstory alone deserves its own book. My knock? It took a little longer than it should’ve to lay the groundwork. But once this book finds its rhythm, it’s nearly impossible to put down.
I’m giving this book a strong 4.5 squeegees out of 5. It’s bold, haunting, inspiring, and absolutely worth the time investment. If you’re a fan of history, true crime, and a little dash of the macabre, don’t miss this one.
Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City will have you appreciating the insane ambition of a bygone era and questioning just how far humans are willing to go—for greatness or for darkness.
Now, what are you waiting for? Go grab a copy, start reading, and prepare to be totally enthralled. Until next week, happy reading!
