Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America, by Erik Larson (HC, 2003, $4)
"Eric Larson... tells the spellbinding true story of two men, an architect and a serial killer, whose fates were linked by the greatest fair in America's history: The Chicago World's Fair of 1893, nicknamed 'The White City'." The murderer was "Henry H. Holmes, a young doctor who, in a malign parody of the White City, built his 'World's Fair Hotel' just west of the fairgrounds- a torture palace complete with dissection table, gas chamber and 3,000 degree crematorium." While the architect transformed swamp into fair grounds, Holmes used the fair to entice young women into his hotel, women who would never make it back to their homes.
This fair was different. For one thing, the fair made money for Chicago, and for its investors. The profit on this fair, one million in 1893 dollars, would inspire other organizeers to think their fairs would make money. (Almost none did.) It would also introduce Americans to Aunt Jemima pancakes, Shredded Wheat and Quaker Oats cereals, and to Cracker Jack and Juicy Fruit gum. The fair also gave Americans a massive Ferris Wheel. Except for the murdered women the fair was a raging success.
I already have a copy of this book in my library. To get one for your own, look on the new non-fiction table. (L-gnf)
