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The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
For students in the Knowlton School of Architecture*
*Exploration Program students may choose among the three BBC books.
Discussion groups and other events are being planned!
Watch BBC Events in September for details.
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About The Devil in the White City
(Synopsis by UAFYE staff)
The parallel tales of two "architects," working on different projects simultaneously. Daniel H. Burnham works feverishly to complete the seemingly impossible: create an entire city on a plot of land in Chicago for the 1893 World's Fair. H.H. Holmes takes his time constructing from petty criminal enterprises what will be his masterpiece: a hotel filled with horrors, where innocent young women come to enjoy the Fair and instead meet grisly ends.
Larson's choice of narrative style makes this an engrossing page-turner: non-fiction that reads like a novel. Alternating chapters track the progress of each man as they move toward the culmination of their lives' work. Burnham struggles against financial and environmental set-backs as he races to achieve his American dream; Holmes cons everyone who comes into his life to make his nightmare a reality.
Cleverly entwined are appearances by some of the world's most famous politicians, artists, and celebrities. The Devil in the White City is a fascinating glimpse at two American milestones: one of the most celebrated cultural events in American history, and America's first "serial killer." |
About Erik Larson
(from the official book web site, www.randomhouse.com/crown/devilinthewhitecity)
Erik Larson, author of the international bestseller Isaac's Storm, was nominated for a National Book Award for The Devil in the White City. He is a former features writer for the Wall Street Journal and Time magazine, where he is still a contributing writer. His magazine stories have appeared in the New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, and other publications.
Larson has taught nonfiction writing at San Francisco State, the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars, and the University of Oregon, and has spoken to audiences from coast to coast. He lives in Seattle with his wife, three daughters, a dwarf hamster, a Chinese fighting fish, and a golden retriever named Molly.
Book-Related Links
Official book web site: www.randomhouse.com/crown/devilinthewhitecity
Reader's guide: www.randomhouse.com/vintage/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375725609&view=rg
Review:
bookreporter.com: www.bookreporter.com/reviews/0375725601.asp
Interviews:
From the publisher's web site: www.randomhouse.com/crown/devilinthewhitecity/interview.html
indentitytheory.com: www.identitytheory.com/interviews/birnbaum95.html
Learn more about the issues:
History of Chicago: www.chipublib.org/004chicago/chihist.html
1893 World's Fair: xroads.virginia.edu/%7EMA96/WCE/title.html
The Columbian exhibition: users.vnet.net/schulman/Columbian/columbian.html
Daniel Burnham: www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/Architects/Burnham.html
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