Author erik larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 chicago worlds fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the books categorization to be sure that the devil in the white city is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. The devil in the white city by erik larson book club. Sin in the second city has much in common with devil in the white city as it takes place roughly during the same time period in chicago around 1900. Book club members decide what books to read by voting either in person or via email. About a third of the way through it some of us thought, is this fiction or non fiction. The devil in the white city by erik larson the devil in. Book club ideas for the devil in the white city by erik larson.
People were so desperate to ride the revolutionary ahem wheel the columbian guards had to hold them back. The other would become one of americas earliest and most diabolical serial killers. By michael kowalchuk last week marked the beginning of eskwas newest tradition. Erick larsons the devil in the white city elicited a lively discussion from the beaufort book club. We read and discussed the devil in the white city by erik larson. The devil in the white city wednesday, april 15, 2020 at international museum of surgical science, chicago, il. The devil in the white city draws the reader into a time of magic and majesty, made all the more appealing by a supporting cast of reallife characters, including buffalo bill, theodore dreiser, susan b. The devil in the white city by erik larson audio and print. Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america crown publishers, isbn 0609608444 is a 2003 historical nonfiction book by erik larson presented in a novelistic style.
As larson demonstrates so brilliantly, the fair did just that. This nonlinear novel is divided into four parts with the first three parts of the novel. Architect, daniel burnham and pharmacist, henry holmes. Here are my first five impressions of devil in the white city. The introduction to the film showed contemporary photos and art of the columbia exposition of 1893.
Larsons book, though meticulously researched and faithful to fact, reads like a novel. Even before we officially met, there were some consistent thoughts about our chosen book details, names, murder. The devil in the white city has two different but parallel. I almost never recommend historical books, especially if theyre nonfiction. The events of the book occurred in 1893 at the worlds columbian exposition in chicago during the gilded age, a time period sandwiched between the more often discussed civil war and world war i. The devil in the white city by erik larson is a true story about the chicago worlds fair. As a work of history, the devil in the white city by erik larson is gaining traction. Reading guide for the devil in the white city by erik larson discussion guide for book clubs. Devil in the white city virtual book club home facebook. The devil in the white city seems like a funny name for a book. Jan 28, 2007 as a work of history, the devil in the white city by erik larson is gaining traction. Im finding myself unexpectedly engaged in this book. Sep 28, 2012 historical context for the devil in the white city the devil in the white city takes place in a time period normally overlooked in history classes. Devil in the white city discussion questions mentor public library.
Reading guide for the devil in the white city by erik larson. What makes the story all the more chilling is that holmes really lived, walking the grounds of that dream city by the lake. It was a lowkey affair, so no real decorations, but i did print out a few pictures of the fair to display on the table. The books two most powerful figures, the great architect daniel burnham. The devil in the white city cliffsnotes study guides book. About this book in the devil in the white city, erik larson takes readers into a richly complex moment in american history, a moment that would draw together the best and worst of the gilded age, the grandeur and triumph of the human imagination, and the poverty, violence, and depravity that surrounded it. This nonlinear novel is divided into four parts with the first three parts of the novel primarily taking place in chicago. The devil in the white city tells the true story of the 1893 chicago worlds fair and provides a fascinating insight into an america coming of age on the world stage. Erik larsons gifts as a storyteller are magnificently displayed in this. Jan 05, 2020 book club members decide what books to read by voting either in person or via email. The devil in the white city and millions of other books are available for instant access. It was called white city because the major exhibition buildings were painted white. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Copies of the book are available for purchase at m and m bookstore.
Much all of this has to do with erik larson, creator of this work. The devil in the white city between friends book club. Historical context for the devil in the white city the devil in the white city takes place in a time period normally overlooked in history classes. While i read a lot of excellent books published by academic presses, i would never. While we dont charge a book club membership fee, the only way we can offer you this free service is if you buy the. At the end of the devil in the white city, in notes and sources, larson writes the thing that entranced me about chicago in the gilded age was the city s willingness to take on the impossible in the name of civic honor, a concept so removed from the modern psyche that two wise readers of early drafts of this book wondered why chicago was so.
On june 21st, we will discuss the devil in the white city by erik larson. Look above to see whats next in the hopper and check out the list below for content weve already plowed through. Many of us started reading this book without knowing what it was about. What is the essential difference between men like daniel burnham and henry h. My book club read it this month and i thought it was great. The devil in the white city is a literary nonfiction novel that spans the years surrounding the building of the 1893 chicago worlds fair, also known as the worlds columbian exposition, which was designed to commemorate the landing of columbus in america. In the devil in the white city, erik larson takes readers into a richly complex moment in american history, a moment that would draw together the best and worst of the gilded age, the grandeur and triumph of the human imagination, and the poverty, violence, and depravity that surrounded it. The devil in the white city tells of the great chicago expo on the late nineteenth century and a mass murderer who was operating in the windy city before and after the exhibition. Since being published in 2003, larsons dual story of daniel burnham overseeing the worlds columbian. Devil in the white city discussion questions by erik larson author bio. The subtitle of the devil in the white city is murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america. Scheduled the devil in the white city end of dont be.
We are also setting up an online book club and discussion page. From the way electricity is delivered into homes, to the length of our workweek, to amusement park rides, to cultural icons, there is a brief but fascinating link between. Theres so much to analyze and research during the course of the average week that reading time seems to have evaporated for me. The devil in the white city booksamillion online book store. Although the subject matter may turn some people off, i loved learning about the history of prostitution in chicago. The devil in the white city has two different but parallel story lines going on throughout the entire book. Anthony, thomas edison, archduke francis ferdinand, and others.
Book club ideas for the devil in the white city by erik. The devil in the white city by erik larson, which was a book club pick from last year and took me more than the month allotted to read, is a look at chicagos endeavor to build a worlds fair to rival that of paris. Providing a peek into the mind of a certified psycho, larsons chilling bestseller is a work of truecrime reportage thats destined to become a nonfiction classic. The novel depicts the lives of daniel h burnham the chief architect of the fair and his struggle against a seemingly endless number of threats that sought to destroy his vision. This nonlinear novel is divided into four parts with the first three parts of the novel primarily taking place in chicago between the years. The devil in the white city by erik larson is a true story that takes place at the 1893 chicago worlds fair. The first month for this club was august, when we read packing for mars by mary roach. The black city to the north lay steeped in smoke and garbage, but here in the white city of the fair visitors found clean public bathrooms, pure water, an ambulance service, electric streetlights, and a sewageprocessing system that yielded acres of manure for farmers 3. The devil in the white city won the edgar award for best fact crime in 2004. An irresistible pageturner that reads like the most compelling, sleep defying fiction time out one was an architect. Erik larson has brought together great historical events into a pageturning, stunning success.
Larson attempts to contrast the beauty of the white city created by some architectural. Get ready to have all your daydreams about living in the late victorian era the clopclop of horse carriages. The devil in the white city have you heard about the nonfiction book club. Eriks the devil in the white city is set to be a hulu limited series. In this book the smoke, romance, and mystery of the gilded age come alive as never before. Eventbrite international museum of surgical science presents virtual imss book club. Katie at doing dewey is hosting an online nonfiction book club on her blog. Scheduled the devil in the white city end of love summary. The devil in the white city by erik larson book club discussion. And perhaps it was hard for the first 30 or 50 pages, but now that im 100 pages in, i find myself thinking. Very interesting, especially if youre at all interested in history. Larson has written 7 books, including his newest called dead wake.
Erik lives in manhattan with his wife, who is a writer and retired neonatologist. Join us on thursday, october 24 at 6 pm to discuss the devil in the white city by erik larson our october our pick book club selection. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Look above to see whats next in the hopper and check out the list. The devil in the white city is an entertaining and informative look at chicagos 1893 worlds fair, which despite many obstacles lack of time and money, natural disasters, a bad economy, pressure to top pariss fair, which introduced the iconic eiffel tower got completed and proceeded to make international headlines and change the country. This is the incredible story of these two men and their realization of the chicago worlds fair of 1893, a. The white city is the columbian exposition held in chicago in 1892 to honor the 400th anniversary of columbuss discovery of america. Erik larson born january 1, 1954 lives in seattle with his wife, three daughters, a chinese fighting fish, a dwarf hamster, and a golden retriever named molly. In this book the smoke, romance, and mystery of the gilded age come alive as. It tells the story of the 1893 worlds columbian exposition in chicago from the viewpoint of the designers, including daniel. The introduction to the film showed contemporary photos and.
I stress that because a few years ago we read it in our. Our book club loved this book, and i have given it as gifts. The second plot follows the creation of the chicago worlds fair and all involved. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about the story. Four intrepid readers gathered to discuss erik larsons compelling work of true crime history, the devil in the white city. About the bookthis new york times bestseller intertwines the true tale of the 1893 worlds fair and the cunning serial killer who. We love digging into great books that allow for stellar conversation with all of you. The book we read this month was the devil in the white city by erik larson. At the end of the devil in the white city, in notes and sources, larson writes the thing that entranced me about chicago in the gilded age was the citys willingness to take on the impossible in the name of civic honor, a concept so removed from the modern psyche that two wise readers of early drafts of this book wondered why chicago was so. In the devil in the white city, larson chronicles chiefly a tale of two citydwellers.
One would helm the creation of a wonderland of awestriking beauty and refinement. In the devil in the white city, erik larson takes readers into a richly complex moment in american history, a moment that would draw together the best and worst of the gilded age, the grandeur and triumph of the human imagination, and the poverty, violence, and depravity that surrounded it the books two most powerful figures, the great architect daniel burnham. I found the preparations for, and the building of, the expo site much more interesting that the repeated killings carried out by a deranged man. The events of the book occurred in 1893 at the worlds columbian exposition in chicago during the gilded age, a time period sandwiched between.
Jun 21, 2015 on june 21st, we will discuss the devil in the white city by erik larson. If you cant make a meeting in person or you just cant wait until the meeting to start the discussion, no problem. Since being published in 2003, larsons dual story of. Nov 16, 2007 erick larsons the devil in the white city elicited a lively discussion from the beaufort book club. Yet the devil in the white city, which concerns all of these elements and more, is so engrossing a tale that it is impossible to put down. The devil in the white city discussion questions thoughtco. The devil in the white city it has been a little bit of a rough go this summer as far as reading goes. First we watched about ten minutes of the dvd expo. Burnham, a famous architect, was involved in building the great chicago worlds fair, called the worlds columbian exposition, for the 400th anniversary of columbuss discovery of america aka the white city. Food ideas for the devil in the white city by erik larson.
I stress that because a few years ago we read it in our book club and not one person finished the actual book. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fairs construction, and h. When i first started out i was a little nervous the more historical, nonfiction writing would make reading it a task. March 15, 2017 march 31, 2018 elizabeth 3 comments. Are you interested in diving deeper into the themes explored through our collections and. Mostly because historical nonfiction is almost always written for historians. The devil in the white city by erik larson the devil in the. Random house the devil in the white city won the edgar award for best fact crime in 2004. Jun 21, 2011 since the book is all about happenings at the 1893 chicago worlds fair, of course i had to make some fair food. It was my turn to host this month, so i was in charge of the treats cant have a book club without yummy food to eat, right. Dec 02, 2015 in the devil in the white city, erik larson takes readers into a richly complex moment in american history, a moment that would draw together the best and worst of the gilded age, the grandeur and triumph of the human imagination, and the poverty, violence, and depravity that surrounded it.
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