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

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• The author reconstructs historical events with novelistic detail and dialogue. How did this narrative approach influence your engagement with the true story? Did it enhance or affect your trust in the historical account? Have you read other works of nonfiction that use a similar approach?
• Larson interweaves two contrasting narratives: the creation of the World’s Fair and Holmes’s series of murders. How does this dual structure affect your reading experience? Did you find yourself more invested in one storyline over the other?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Consider the rapid modernization of Chicago in the 1890s. Do you see any parallels between those societal changes and transformations in your own city or community? In general, how do you feel about technological change?
• Burnham faced numerous setbacks in creating the World’s Fair, from weather disasters to labor strikes. What insights does his persistence offer about overcoming obstacles in your own life?
• The book explores how Holmes exploited the anonymity of urban life to commit his crimes. How do you balance trust and caution in your own interactions within your community?
• Many characters in the book chase ambitious dreams, from Burnham’s architectural vision to Ferris’s revolutionary wheel. What monumental dream would you pursue if given similar resources and opportunities?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• The World’s Fair embodied America’s desire to prove itself culturally equal to Europe. What modern events or projects reflect similar national ambitions, either in the US or elsewhere?
• The book depicts the emergence of modern urban life, including new technologies and social structures. Which aspects of 1890s Chicago seem surprisingly modern, and which feel distinctly historical?
• How did the Fair’s treatment of international cultures and exhibits reflect the social attitudes of the time? What has changed or remained similar in how fairs and expositions represent different cultures today?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Examine the role of female figures in the book. How does their portrayal reflect both the limitations and emerging opportunities for women in the 1890s?
• Compare Burnham’s and Holmes’s relationships with their colleagues. What do these contrasts reveal about leadership, trust, and human nature?
• Consider the architectural descriptions of both the White City and Holmes’s hotel. How do these physical spaces serve as metaphors for their creators’ intentions?
• How does Larson use weather and natural elements as literary devices to enhance both the Fair’s story and Holmes’s narrative?
• Analyze the author’s use of foreshadowing, particularly regarding the fates of key figures like Root, Ferris, and Mayor Harrison. How does this technique build tension throughout the narrative?
• The book begins with Burnham aboard the Olympic in 1912 and ends with references to the Titanic disaster. What emotions or ideas does this framing evoke about human ambition and vulnerability?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• If you could interview one person from the book, whom would you choose, and what three questions would you ask them?
• Design your own exhibition for the World’s Fair. What modern innovations or cultural elements would you showcase to capture the same sense of wonder achieved by the original Fair?
• Create a walking tour of your city highlighting locations that tell its story during the same era as the World’s Fair. Which sites would you include, and why?

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