The Devil in the White City: A Saga of Magic and Murder at the Fair that Changed America | Summary

By Summary Station

In 1912, Daniel Burnham and his family are aboard the RMS Olympic, the second largest cruise ship in the world and sister ship to the Titanic. Burnham has gained fame and wealth from aiding in the construction of the World’s Fair at Chicago in 1893. Nearly two decades later, Burnham is sixty-two years old and unable to enjoy the cruise ship outside of his room due to his foot injury. While he’s confined, Burnham delivers a message to Frank Millet, a dear friend aboard the Titanic. In light of the Titanic’s accident, the message is rejected. This news distresses Burnham, because Millet was one of the only living supporters of the Chicago Fair since its completion in 1893, and inspires him to share the events of the era. This is a summary and analysis of the book and NOT the original book

• Language: English
• Publisher: Summary Station
• Release date: Jun 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310983405

Summary Station

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Book preview

Prologue

In 1912, Daniel Burnham and his family are aboard the RMS Olympic, the second largest cruise ship in the world and sister ship to the Titanic. Burnham has gained fame and wealth from aiding in the construction of the World’s Fair at Chicago in 1893. Nearly two decades later, Burnham is sixty-two years old and unable to enjoy the cruise ship outside of his room due to his foot injury. While he’s confined, Burnham delivers a message to Frank Millet, a dear friend aboard the Titanic. In light of the Titanic’s accident, the message is rejected. This news distresses Burnham, because Millet was one of the only living supporters of the Chicago Fair since its completion in 1893, and inspires him to share the events of the era.

Chapter 1

Burnham first focuses on Chicago’s danger to young single women. They have to be constantly warned of unscrupulous men, especially since most of their jobs were near bars, brothels, and gambling houses. The citizens viewed such businesses as necessary breaks from the dullness of an honest life. Other threats include accidental injury and death from the railway systems, murders, and bronchial diseases. Moral issues concerning divorce and free love concern the citizens also.

Chapter 2

On February 24, 1890, two thousand business-affiliated customers wait outside of the Chicago Tribune building to be informed of the daily news. This occurs every afternoon because they depend on it to affirm that their city is reputable. Previously, Chicago became the second most populous city in America in place of Philadelphia. This news boosts Chicago’s citizens’ pride and the expectations of improving their city’s reputation, much to the humor of other cities and states in the United States.

David Burnham and John Root have been covertly preparing for an upcoming project after they have conceived many successful American buildings. Like observers outside the Tribune building, they waited for the telegraph