The Devil in the White City

Another long ride gave me the chance to do some power listening from audible.com.  Have I told you how expensive this journey to read all the RA favorites… no idea, but it has been a pretty penny.  Time for some non-fiction and a book that has been the favorite for multiple RAs.  The Devil in the White City by Eric Larsen is an excellent story that chronicles two stories at the same time.  First the building of the World’s Fair celebrating the 400 year anniversary of Columbus discovering America (can you even believe that we would celebrate the 500 years?  With all of the issues revolving Columbus, not so!). The windy city (or the white city – no idea that’s what it was called) wins the bid.  The trials and tribulations surrounding the build-up and intricacies involved in the landscaping, building, and the triumphs of the unions are all captured and at the same time following the life of Dr. H.H. Holmes, the first known serial killer in the US.  Larsen does an outstanding job of weaving the two stories together and providing a historical perspective on so many things that we benefitted from in our growing up. Throw in a few euphemisms that I now know the historical context and you have a read that also teaches the readers a few things.   I also loved the fact that the reader was the same person who read Alexander Hamilton’s biography.   I would add this to the list of reads.  I understand why this was a bestselling book.  Well done.