Tuesday, August 03, 2010

I just finished reading The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larsen. Wow, what a book! It is the story of the Chicago world's fair of 1893--The Columbian Exposition--and also the very sad tale of a psychopath who killed perhaps 27 or more people during that time. The book is a little gruesome in parts, but as a piece of cultural history it is utterly fascinating. I should say that most of the book is taken up with an inspiring account of the building of the Chicago fair, which was an engineering achievement of grand proportions. It is a tale full of stunning details, amazing individuals, and the sights and sounds of Gilded Age Chicago.

1 comment:

Glynn said...

I bought The Devil in the White City in Chicago when we were visiting last year for a long Mohter's Day weekend. And it is a great read, indeed.