The Devil in the White City

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The Devil in the White City
Cover of The Devil in the White City
AuthorErik Larson
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreHistorical non-fiction
PublisherCrown Publishers
Publication date
2003
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback)
Pages447
ISBN0-609-60844-4
OCLC54397544

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America is a 2003 historical non-fiction book by Erik Larson presented in a novelistic style. Set in Chicago during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, it tells the story of World’s Fair architect Daniel Burnham and of H. H. Holmes, a criminal figure widely considered the first serial killer in the United States.[1] Leonardo DiCaprio purchased the film rights in 2010.[2] The concept has since been in development hell.[3]

Chicago Worlds Fair 1893

Plot[edit]

The Devil in the White City is divided into four parts, the first three happening in Chicago between 1890 and 1893, while part four of the book takes place in Philadelphia circa 1895. The book interweaves the true tales of Daniel Burnham, the architect behind the 1893 World's Fair, and H. H. Holmes, a serial killer who lured his victims to their deaths in his elaborately constructed "Murder Castle". The goal of this book is to talk about the 1893 Chicago Worlds fair and talk about both Burnham and Holmes and their experiences during the 1893 World's Fair. Burnham was the main architect and wanted this project to be a success to show America is capable of hosting a Worlds Fair. Burnham ran into many challenges when it came to the World's Fair including a fire, difficulty engineering the buildings to be safe, and a lack of funds for the fair. On the other hand, H.H. Holmes was responsibly for multiple murders of people who lived in Chicago or were involved in the World's fair. His "dungeon" was equipped with secret rooms, torture chambers, and he even had access to a big furnace to cremate the bodies of his victims. Holmes was known as a charming man who had the ability to seduce his victims. He mainly targeted women in the book.

Reception[edit]

Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised the book as "vivid" and "lively", and commented on how the research done by Larson on the many "odd and amazing" events of the 1893 exhibition are "given shape and energy" by his "dramatic inclinations".[4]

David Traxel for The New York Times criticized Larson for having "little sense of pacing or focus" in the "grab-bag" approach he took when discussing the exhibition. Regarding the discussion of Holmes in the book, he writes that Larson's "imaginative touches…sometimes goes farther than the sources warrant".[5]

In a book review by Malcolm Jones, he summarized the book and talks about how these are very accurate and good stories and that the stories on murders are all based on facts. He states that this book was successful because the stories of the murders are extremely enchanting and this is why it was a best seller. He also talks about the fair being a marvel of American engineering and the fair was instated to show America is still able to be successful enough to host something like this.

Adaptations[edit]

In 2007, a television documentary inspired by the book titled Madness in the White City aired on the National Geographic Channel.[6]

Ann Reinking collaborated with composer Bruce Wolosoff and Melissa Thodos of Thodos Dance Chicago to create the ballet The Devil in the White City, based on the novel; the Chicago Sun-Times named it "Best Dance of 2011".[7][8]

Leonardo DiCaprio purchased the film rights to the book in 2010. The film version, as originally planned, would have been directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Billy Ray, and produced jointly by Paramount Pictures, Double Feature Films, and DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions.[9][10][11]

In 2019, Hulu began developing a series based on the book. DiCaprio and Scorsese were signed on to executive produce.[12][13] It was announced in January 2022 that actor Keanu Reeves was in negotiations to star in the series and Todd Field would direct the first two episodes.[14] Production and filming were expected to begin March 2023 in Chicago and Toronto, with the series expected to launch in 2024.[15] In October 2022, Reeves left the production without comment.[16] Field left the project a couple of days later.[17] In March 2023, it was reported that Hulu would not move forward with the series.[18][19] The show is being shopped to other distributors without Reeves and Field attached.[20] The adaptations for this book were mainly unsuccessful and they are still working on creating either a movie or TV show about the book.

Honors[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; Solly, Meilan. "The Enduring Mystery of H.H. Holmes, America's 'First' Serial Killer". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  2. ^ "Leonardo DiCaprio secures rights to book of first serial killer in the US", The Guardian newspaper (November 2, 2010). Accessed Nov. 2, 2010.
  3. ^ Rindner, Grant (2022-10-11). "'Devil in the White City' Seems Cursed in Hollywood". GQ. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  4. ^ Maslin, Janet (2003-02-10). "BOOKS OF THE TIMES; Add a Serial Murderer to 1893 Chicago's Opulent Overkill". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  5. ^ Traxel, David (2003-03-09). "A Real-Life Bates Motel". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  6. ^ Smith, Sid (September 24, 2007). "Condensed 'Madness' a compelling Chicago tale". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  7. ^ Weiss, Hedy (December 22, 2011). ""11 for '11: The year's best dance"". Chicago Sun-Times.
  8. ^ "Thodos Dance Chicago rebuilds the White City". Time Out Chicago. March 1, 2011.
  9. ^ "Leonardo DiCaprio Teams With Martin Scorsese for 'Devil in the White City'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  10. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 16, 2011). "Warner Bros Sets Black List Top Scribe Graham Moore For 'Devil In The White City'; Leonardo DiCaprio To Play Serial Killer". Deadline Hollywood.
  11. ^ McNary, Dave (August 10, 2015). "Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese Reunite for 'Devil in the White City'". Variety. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  12. ^ "Keanu Reeves reportedly in talks to star in Hulu's adaptation of 'The Devil in the White City'". Web News Observer. 2022-01-10. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  13. ^ Otterson, Joe (February 11, 2019). "'Devil in the White City' Series in the Works at Hulu from Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese." Variety. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  14. ^ Epting, Claire (January 4, 2022). "Keanu Reeves to Star In Scorsese Produced 'Devil in the White City' Series". ScreenCrush.
  15. ^ "The Devil in the White City sets spring production date in Chicago". | Reel Chicago - At the intersection of Chicago Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production. 2022-08-29. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  16. ^ "Keanu Reeves Exits Hulu's Devil in the White City Series". Vulture. 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  17. ^ "Devil in the White City: Director Todd Field Exits Hulu Show". 10 October 2022.
  18. ^ Otterson, Joe (2023-03-07). "'Devil in the White City' Series Not Moving Forward at Hulu". Variety. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  19. ^ Rice, Lynette (March 6, 2023). "Hulu Drops 'Devil In The White City'; ABC Signature Hopes To Find New Home For Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  20. ^ Gularte, Alejandra (2023-03-07). "The Devil in the White City Adaptation Isn't Happening". Vulture. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  21. ^ "Paperback Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - March 4, 2018 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-20.

External links[edit]

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