The Devil in the White City. Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

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"The Devil in the White City" is a representative work of crime nonfiction by American author Erik Larson. In 1893, during America's Gilded Age, the Chicago World's Fair is about to take place, as the old world is collapsing and glory and evil are vying for attention. Chief designer Burnham tirelessly seeks to gather renowned architects and planners to create a fair that will astonish the world and reshape Chicago's image. He declares that this will not just be a dream. Meanwhile, a young, handsome doctor steps off a train a few blocks away, carrying a surgical bag. To the women unaware of his secret desires, he appears charming. He enters a world filled with noise, fog, and steam, envisioning a "mysterious hotel" where all secret and evil dreams will come true. "I cannot help but kill, just as a poet cannot help but sing when inspiration strikes." "The Devil in the White City" alternates between the construction of the fair and the madness of a murderous demon, using richly poetic and tense nonfiction language. This story is both lavish and wicked, leaving everyone in awe and filled with fear.