& 20 users
Type: documentary
Status: favorite
Author: Erik Larson
Tags: history non-fiction
Description: Wow! When it comes to history, this one takes the prize. The author does have to dramaticallyWow! When it comes to history, this one takes the prize. The author does have to dramatically recreate events for some situations but he is able to produce mountains of material to support his version of events. The book artfully transposes the World's Fair and Columbian Exposition of 1893 with the life of a serial killer who was living not far from the fair in Chicago. I know it sounds very odd but this is really one of the very best books I've read in a long time.
All of the material about the fair in particular was fascinating. I never realized how important it was nor did I see the repercussions it has even today (for example the fact that we use alternating current for our electricity rather than direct current was influenced by the fair's selection of AC). If you can only read two books on this list, pick Kavalier & Clay and this one....
2005-09-12
