Book of the Day | 2025-12-24 | The Devil in the White City | Murder, Madness, and the 1893 Chicago

Описание: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson is a gripping work of narrative nonfiction that intertwines two dramatically opposed stories unfolding during the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. On one side is the monumental effort to design and build the fair itself, led by visionary architect Daniel Burnham and his partner John Root. Their ambition is nothing short of colossal: to construct the dazzling “White City,” overcome political infighting, labor unrest, and engineering challenges, and prove that Chicago can rival Europe’s greatest cultural achievements. The fair becomes a symbol of American innovation, progress, and national pride, rising from chaos under relentless pressure and impossible deadlines.

Running parallel to this story of brilliance and ambition is a far darker narrative—that of H. H. Holmes, born Herman Mudgett, a charming and manipulative serial killer who exploits the fair to carry out fraud and murder. Holmes constructs a sinister hotel near the exposition grounds, later dubbed the “Murder Castle,” outfitted with secret passages, soundproof rooms, and hidden chambers designed to trap and kill unsuspecting victims. As visitors flood into Chicago for the fair, Holmes preys on their trust, leaving a trail of disappearances that eventually draws the attention of law enforcement.

The investigation culminates in the work of Detective Frank Geyer, who painstakingly tracks Holmes across the country while searching for the missing Pitezel children. His methodical pursuit exposes Holmes’s crimes and provides a chilling counterpoint to the grandeur of the fair. Larson’s narrative masterfully juxtaposes human creativity and moral darkness, showing how extraordinary achievement and horrifying evil can coexist in the same historical moment.

Blending meticulous research with novelistic storytelling, The Devil in the White City is both a historical epic and a true-crime thriller. It captures the energy, optimism, and corruption of turn-of-the-century America while reminding readers that even at the height of progress, unimaginable horrors can lurk just out of sight.

🏷 The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson, true crime, historical nonfiction, H H Holmes, Chicago World’s Fair 1893, serial killer, Murder Castle, Daniel Burnham, White City, American history, architecture, investigative journalism