He was the only one of the family to survive what francois maurois, in his introduction, calls the human holocaust of the persecution of the jews, which began with the restrictions, the singularization of the yellow star, the enclosure within the ghetto, and went on to the mass deportations to the ovens. The 1910 memoir twenty years in hull house, by jane addams who appears briefly in the devil in the white city documents the disease and squalor in chicago at the end of the 19th century. The devil in the white city by erik larson is a true story about the chicago worlds fair. The devil in the white city discussion questions about. Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america study questions. Brooklyn public library catalog the devil in the white.
Bring on the tough stuff theres not just one right answer. Reading guide for the devil in the white city by erik larson. Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america questions. Theyre like having inclass notes for every discussion. Feb 01, 2003 elie wiesel spent his early years in a small transylvanian town as one of four children. The devil in the white city has two different but parallel story lines going on throughout the entire book. The enotes rules allow only one question per post, so i had to edit your question. Grace has taught high school history in several states with a masters degree in teaching. Book club ideas for the devil in the white city by erik. The book won an edgar award for best factcrime writing, and was a finalist for a national book award. Oct, 2005 a book group met at the new carrollton branch of the prince georges county memorial library system to discuss erik larsons book, the devil in the white city. Ask and answer questions about the novel or view study guides, literature essays and more. The devil in the white city draws the reader into a time of magic and majesty, made all the more appealing by a supporting cast of reallife characters, including buffalo bill, theodore dreiser, susan b.
The subtitle of the devil in the white city is murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america. Towards the end of the book the two plots tie together. The novel depicts the lives of daniel h burnham the chief architect of the fair and his struggle against a seemingly endless number of threats that sought to destroy his vision. Larson, in researching the enormous detail that is the hallmark of the devil in the white city, directly perused contemporaneous documents, such as diaries, police reports and notes of the principals who are his subject matter. Heights of splendor, pride, exaltation in one month. To ask other readers questions about the devil in the white city, please sign up.
In the devil in the white city, author erik larson uses extensive research to recreate the lives of two real men and to reinvent chicago during the worlds columbian exposition. Complete list of characters in erik larsons the devil in the white city. Jan 20, 20 i felt larson did a nice job of the back and forth contrasting burnham and holmes, white city, and devil. I felt larson did a nice job of the back and forth contrasting burnham and holmes, white city, and devil. Erik larson has stated repeatedly that truman capotes 1961 nonfiction novel in cold blood, which mixes literary techniques and journalism, was a. Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america by erik larson december 2018. Rather than a dry recitation of the facts or regurgitation of the documentation. Discussion questions with answers the devil in the white city. I found the preparations for, and the building of, the expo site much more interesting that the repeated killings carried out by a deranged man.
Anthony, thomas edison, archduke francis ferdinand, and others. The devil in the white city is a historical novel by erik larson that describes the events of the 1893 worlds fair held in chicago, illinois. The white city, made up of 200 buildings on 1 square mile, had 27. The devil in the white city by erik larson book club. The lure of the serial killer drew me in but what kept me interested were the glimpses of our nations past during a time that i knew very little about.
Although the book does not mention the name of the structure, one can infer and use prior knowledge to determine that the structure was the ferris wheel, since it was designed and constructed by a young pittsburgh engineer named george washington gale ferris pg. The other would become one of americas earliest and most diabolical serial killers. The devil in the white city by erik larson in the devil in the white city, erik larson takes readers into a richly complex moment in american history, a moment that would draw together the best and worst of the gilded age, the grandeur and triumph of the human imagination, and the poverty, violence, and depravity that surrounded it. Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america summary who wants to time travel back to 1893. The devil in the white city study guide from litcharts. Devil in the white city book club discussion questions.
The devil in the white city by erik larson erik larson recounts the spellbinding tale of the 1893 worlds columbian exposition. The books two most powerful figures, the great architect daniel burnham. Erik larsons gifts as a storyteller are magnificently displayed in this. Cliffsnotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what youre studying, cliffsnotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america is a 2003 nonfiction historical thriller by american journalist erik larson. Daniel hudson burnham, the architect of the fair, and h. In the garden of beasts, thunderstruck, the devil in the white city, and isaacs storm, which have collectively sold more than 5. The devil in the white city by erik larson book club discussion. Nov 21, 2005 the devil in the white city book group discussion a book group met at the new carrollton branch of the prince georges county memorial library system to discuss erik larsons september, 2005. The devil in the white city book group discussion c. His magazine stories have appeared in the new yorker, the atlantic monthly, harpers and other publications and his books have been published in fourteen.
Now, the longgestating adaptation shepherded by martin scorsese and leonardo. Erik larson born january 1, 1954 lives in seattle with his wife, three daughters, a chinese fighting fish, a dwarf hamster, and a golden retriever named molly. The second plot follows the creation of the chicago worlds fair and all involved. Quiz cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. Immediately download the the devil in the white city.
Why do you think erik larson chose to tell burnham and holmes stories together. This nonlinear novel is divided into four parts with the first three parts of the novel. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fairs construction, and h. In this book the smoke, romance, and mystery of the gilded age come alive as never before. Burnham, the architect behind the 1893 worlds fair, and dr. Burnham, a famous architect, was involved in building the great chicago worlds fair, called the worlds columbian exposition, for the 400th anniversary of columbuss discovery of america aka the white city. The devil in the white city by erik larson the devil in the white city by erik larson erik larson recounts the spellbinding tale of the 1893 worlds columbian exposition. We read and discussed the devil in the white city by erik larson.
The devil in the white city booksamillion online book store. The devil in the white city discussion questions thoughtco. Although the book does not mention the name of the structure, one can infer and use prior knowledge to determine that the. Burnham, who coordinated its construction, and serial killer herman mudgett. He was the only one of the family to survive what francois maurois, in his introduction, calls the human holocaust of the persecution of the jews, which began with the restrictions, the singularization of the yellow star, the enclosure within the ghetto, and went on to the mass. The devil in the white city click here for the january 2020 book club discussion questions since reading this book i have recommended it to everyone. At the end of the devil in the white city, in notes and sources, larson writes the thing that entranced me about chicago in the gilded age was the citys willingness to take on the impossible in the name of civic honor, a concept so removed from the modern psyche that two wise readers of early drafts of this book wondered why chicago was so. The devil in the white city audio cassette book discussion. About this book in the devil in the white city, erik larson takes readers into a richly complex. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Tracing the movements of burnham and holmes between 1890 and 1893, the book opens by charting burnhams ascendancy to national prominence.
Larson has written 7 books, including his newest called dead. The devil in the white city after the fair ended, ray stannard baker noted, what a human downfall after the magnificence and prodigality of the worlds fair which has so recently closed its doors. In november 2010, leonardo dicaprio acquired the rights to make a feature film based on devil, and has stated he plans to play the role of the killer, dr. Architect, daniel burnham and pharmacist, henry holmes. Eriks the devil in the white city is set to be a hulu limited series. Murder, magic and madness in the fair that changed america summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching the devil in the white city. At the end of the devil in the white city, in notes and sources, larson writes the thing that entranced me about chicago in the gilded age was the citys willingness to take on the impossible in the name of civic honor, a concept so removed from the modern psyche that two. In the devil in the white city, erik larson takes readers into a richly complex moment in american history, a moment that would draw together the best and worst of the gilded age, the grandeur and triumph of the human imagination, and the poverty, violence, and depravity that surrounded it the books two most powerful figures, the great architect daniel burnham and the.
Yet the devil in the white city, which concerns all of these elements and more, is so engrossing a tale that it is impossible to put down. Holmes, the serial killer who lured his victims to their deaths in his elaborately constructed murder castle. The black city to the north lay steeped in smoke and garbage, but here in the white city of the fair visitors found clean public bathrooms, pure water, an ambulance service, electric streetlights, and a sewageprocessing system that yielded acres of manure for farmers 3. Devil in the white city discussion questions mentor public library. Devil in the white city discussion questions by erik larson author bio. The question and answer section for the devil in the white city is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america, published by crown. He left you just enough piece of the pie and left you wanting more crumbs before swing you over to the next side. Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers. It tells the story of the 1893 worlds columbian exposition in chicago from the viewpoint of the designers, including daniel.
The devil in the white city characters course hero. Erik lives in manhattan with his wife, who is a writer and retired neonatologist. One would helm the creation of a wonderland of awestriking beauty and refinement. The devil in the white city cliffsnotes study guides book. In the process, he creates two separate, yet connected plot lines and attempts to fill in some of the gaps left by history. These book club discussion questions reveal important details about the story. The devil in the white city by erik larson youtube. I grabbed it after hearing about it on last podcast on the left where they discussed h. The title of the book, the devil in the white city, sets up a parallel between good and evil, and every page. Get ready to have all your daydreams about living in the late victorian era the clopclop of horse carriages. I was part of the intergenerational book group, and miss it, but teenagers do grow up.
Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america by erik larson. Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers. Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america crown publishers, isbn 0609608444 is a 2003 historical nonfiction book by erik larson presented in a novelistic style. Murder, magic and madness in the fair that changed america. Murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america. The devil in the white city is a literary nonfiction novel that spans the years surrounding the building of the 1893 chicago worlds fair, also known as the worlds columbian exposition, which was designed to commemorate the landing of columbus in america. Erik larson talked about his book, the devil in the white city. Devil in the white city the book is set in chicago circa 1893, intertwining the true tales of daniel h.
About this book in the devil in the white city, erik larson takes readers into a richly complex moment in american history, a moment that would draw together the best and worst of the gilded age, the grandeur and triumph of the human imagination, and the poverty, violence, and depravity that surrounded it. The devil in the white city tells of the great chicago expo on the late nineteenth century and a mass murderer who was operating in the windy city before and after the exhibition. In the devil in the white city, larson chronicles chiefly a tale of two citydwellers. Learn everything you need to know about daniel burnham, h. Elie wiesel spent his early years in a small transylvanian town as one of four children. In this book the smoke, romance, and mystery of the gilded age come alive as. The book revisits the 1893 worlds fair in chicago, following the stories of two very different historymaking men. A book group met at the new carrollton branch of the prince georges county memorial library system to discuss erik larsons book, the devil in the white city. Bookies is my book club and this page will discuss the. Evening book discussion devil in the white city by erik larson an account of the chicago worlds fair of 1893 relates the stories of two men who shaped the history of the eventarchitect daniel h. Join the discussion about the devil in the white city. Scheduled the devil in the white city end of dont be. Erik larson is the author of four national bestsellers. Random house the devil in the white city won the edgar award for best fact crime in 2004.
This nonlinear novel is divided into four parts with the first three parts of the novel primarily taking place in chicago. The devil in the white city by erik larson is a true story that takes place at the 1893 chicago worlds fair. Feb 11, 2019 erik larsons the devil in the white city is the kind of book that always seemed destined to land on screen. Author erik larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 chicago worlds fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the books categorization to be sure that the devil in the white city is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Erik larson goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. Evening book discussion devil in the white city by erik. The devil in the white city won the edgar award for best fact crime in 2004. Erik larsons the devil in the white city is the kind of book that always seemed destined to land on screen.