The Devil in the White City
From back cover: Bringing Chicago circa 1893 to vivid life, Erik Larson's spell-binding bestseller intertwines the true tale of two men - the brilliant architect behind the legendary 1893 World's Fair, striving to secure America's place in the world; and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Combining meticulous research with nail-biting storytelling, Erik Larson has crafted a narrative with all the wonder of newly discovered history and the thrills of the best fiction.
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What you might want to know about The Devil in the White City
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
Erik Larson runs two true stories in parallel during 1893 Chicago, the architect Daniel Burnham racing to build the World's Columbian Exposition, and the doctor H. H. Holmes preying on young women near the fair grounds.
Yes. The Devil in the White City is Erik Larson's 2003 nonfiction account of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the serial killer H.H. Holmes operating in the same city. Larson uses primary sources and contemporary newspaper accounts.
A film and TV adaptation has been in development for years with Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese attached at various points. As of 2025 the project remains in development at Hulu.
The Devil in the White City was written by Erik Larson, published in 2003 by vintage.
The Devil in the White City is 496 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, The Devil in the White City takes most readers 7 to 11 hours to finish.
The Devil in the White City is a standalone novel by Erik Larson, not part of a series.
The Devil in the White City is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.