The Devil in the White City
This book is in a Controlled Release!
1 journaler for this copy...
I had this book for a while on Mt Toobie and regret not reading it earlier - it's a dazzling piece of historical writing! It's two central themes - the stupendous Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and the evil career of H.H. Holmes, the psychopathic killer in Chicago's midst - interweave with the elegance of a double helix.
The CWF reflected, as it was meant to do, the prodigious energy, creativity, dynamic growth and optimism of late 19th Century America. The success of the Fair was by no means guaranteed. It was a high risk venture, often teetering on the brink of ignominious failure. But succeed it did, in spectacular fashion. I would have loved to have been there!
At a human level, Chicago in that era was rough, tough and often lonely and harshly impersonal. People came from far and wide, and often disappeared without trace or comment. It was an ideal environment for the predatory H.H.Holmes to get rich through ruthless swindling, and to satisfy his evil whim of killing people for amusement.
I warmly recommend this book.
The CWF reflected, as it was meant to do, the prodigious energy, creativity, dynamic growth and optimism of late 19th Century America. The success of the Fair was by no means guaranteed. It was a high risk venture, often teetering on the brink of ignominious failure. But succeed it did, in spectacular fashion. I would have loved to have been there!
At a human level, Chicago in that era was rough, tough and often lonely and harshly impersonal. People came from far and wide, and often disappeared without trace or comment. It was an ideal environment for the predatory H.H.Holmes to get rich through ruthless swindling, and to satisfy his evil whim of killing people for amusement.
I warmly recommend this book.
By hand to BIL David.
