Our June book selection is The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. The book is non-fiction but reads like fiction. It’s actually set in the late 1800’s surrounding The Worlds Fair held in Chicago. A horrific serial killer is having a feast in his hotel of horrors in Chicago. During this same time Jack the Ripper is having his field day in London.
From the website Goodreads we have the following:
Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book’s categorization to be sure that ‘The Devil in the White City’ is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Larson tells the stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair’s construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor.
Burnham’s challenge was immense. In a short period of time, he was forced to overcome the death of his partner and numerous other obstacles to construct the famous “White City” around which the fair was built. His efforts to complete the project, and the fair’s incredible success, are skillfully related along with entertaining appearances by such notables as Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison.
The activities of the sinister Dr. Holmes, who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair, are equally remarkable. He devised and erected the World’s Fair Hotel, complete with crematorium and gas chamber, near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims.
We met at my home for June. My daughter (aka the Doodlebug) is home from college and sat with us for a wee bit as we began to discuss our book. The pigglies (my three fat happy pugs) were also happy to hang out and hope for nibbles. The Beanster (aka Judy B.) was present and accounted for. We were visited by our new neighbor Nabia (Welcome! Super nice talking — can’t wait for more chats over wine!) and last but not least our lovely Patricia.
I’ve never been to a worlds fair — have you? No one at the group had actually ever attended one either. Here’s a link to all the Worlds Fairs. Pretty darn cool. I’ll add that to my ‘to do’ list.
See you next month when we read ‘The Light between the Oceans. Toodles!
Historic College Park Book Club 