Book reviews: November
Nov. 8th, 2015 09:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson- One of the most important and well regarded book of this still young century. Though surely not, it's hard to imagine the current New Releases without this book. Eveything now in the History section seems to be inspired by this- nonfiction written in a stylistic novel-ish way, a lost story of history brought to life and developed to be a readable thriller. I am not saying that is necessary a bad thing (I have read books in this style that have come since, and some are very good) and of course, the truth is this isn't a new thing (Larson owes much to Capote's In Cold Blood and admits such.
I have to admit I thought Larson might be Erik Larsen of Savage Dragon fame (He's not) and got excited when I heard about it on an Art Bell show (particularly the Murder Castle)
Larson weaves a few tales together- the main one being the impossible task and ultimate success of the 1893 World's fair along with the story of America's first serial killer- Dr. HH Holmes, as well as the backstory of the murder of the City's mayor on the last day of the fair by a psycho named Patrick Pendergrast (which mirrors Charles Guiteau's story in some ways).
Critics of the book on social media sites seem to be most critical of the intertwining. I disagree as I feel it works well. The 1893 Fair stuff is pretty interesting to History fans and others. The Fair had unrealistic expectations which its intention to make the US on the same plane as France (of the 1889 Exhibition and it's Eiffel Tower) as well as making Chicago on par with New York City and Philadelphia as major American cities; but it ultimately succeeds.
That part of the book (which is the majority of pages) rules the book, but suffers because the Holmes story is so riveting. Even in 2015 in a world of Saw movies and Court TV, Holmes is fascinating. He is pure evil, and just as charming as he is evil. It's unbelievable. Is he Satan on Earth? It doesn't seem to be beyond the realm of possibility.
The Fair sees the invention of the Ferris Wheel, Columbus Day, shredded wheat. Juicy Fruit gum and is inhabited by an unforgettable group of characters- Buffalo Bill, Helen Keller, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, Theodore Dreiser, Clarence Darrow and many more who came through the fair.
This came with high expectations and I felt they were justified. I read many reviews that didn't like the juxtaposition, and I guess, I get that, but I thought it worked fine. The timing puts both events going on at the same time, and the Birth of Chicago as an event plays a big part in both- the expectations to make Chicago more than a city of stock yards and slaughthouses, as well as a city where women for the first time left to make it on their own (a fact which plays well into Holmes' hands). Well recommended for the history buffs who will get a lot of great trivia, as well as a True Crime story that burns in the mind like none since.
The President is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth by Matthew Algeo - I was really impressed with the first book I read by Algeo (Pedestrianism) and wanted to see how he would handle another favorite topic of mine besides sports, which is history and politics.
I couldn't find Algeo at my BigBox local store so off to Amazon I went. Algeo seems to have a knack like Sarah Vowell to find some obscure but very interesting stories hidden deep in the past (though Algeo, doesn't put his political beliefs on his sleeve like Vowell does. PiaSM is largely non-partisian).
History books tend to skip the period from Civil War to at least Teddy Roosevelt, if not to World War 1. There are a series of Presidents, mostly Republican, mostly one term, mostly bearded, and mostly from Ohio. One suspects if there is any story to tell, it would be in Grover Cleveland, the guy who shows up twice on those free Presidential rulers your teacher or bank gave you.
The truth is the Executive Branch was not particularly powerful in those years, which is reflected in some of the Men who held it not seeming to be particularly interested in staying in office.
The other part is that the major issue of the day was the currency issue, and the whole gold vs silver debate is confusing. Although this contradicts what I just said about History books above, I have actually been reading a lot of books focused on the late 19th Century. Credit to Algeo for probably the best description of both sides of that debate I have read, and why people felt strongly either for a Silver or Gold Standard.
Cleveland is an interesting character and a stronger leader than some of his predecessors. He is very Conservative and would do well today with those against government "handouts". The book revolves around a story of the time in which Cleveland discovers a tumor in his mouth, and improbably, keeps it hidden by having it removed during what appears to outsiders as a boating trip.
Because of the subject matter, we get background on 19th century medicine, surgery, dentistry, and anesthesia, as well as the politics of the day. All fascinating material for history buffs.
President Grant had died of cancer, and there was an extreme stigma around it, so it would have rocked the Nation if it had been let out. Similarly, the balance of Gold supporters and Silverites was within a few votes. Even in Cleveland's party were the supporters of William Jennings Bryan, and Cleveland's Vice President (the first Adlai Stevenson) was sympathetic. The Panic of 1893 (the country's worst financial crisis besides the Great Depression) makes things shaky as it is.
So, it is a cover up, and things go well. Things go well with the surgery- which is even amazing by today's standards- and things go well with the cover up. There are plenty of distractions like the birth of Cleveland's daughter, plus also an attitude in the press not to rock the boat so to speak.
Meanwhile, a journalist named EJ Edwards finds the truth out and publishes it. He's vilified for it for many years, and the public believe the "always honest" Cleveland.
It makes for a very interesting story. It also brings to mind questions which I don't know the answer to. Is it better or worse for the public to know? If the public knew the real situation, it indeed may have made the economy worse, and given that Cleveland survived, would have been an unnecessary scare. Yet, we value the truth over all else, right?
A really interesting book for all of the reasons above, and well recommended for history buffs who will be well engrossed into it.
I have to admit I thought Larson might be Erik Larsen of Savage Dragon fame (He's not) and got excited when I heard about it on an Art Bell show (particularly the Murder Castle)
Larson weaves a few tales together- the main one being the impossible task and ultimate success of the 1893 World's fair along with the story of America's first serial killer- Dr. HH Holmes, as well as the backstory of the murder of the City's mayor on the last day of the fair by a psycho named Patrick Pendergrast (which mirrors Charles Guiteau's story in some ways).
Critics of the book on social media sites seem to be most critical of the intertwining. I disagree as I feel it works well. The 1893 Fair stuff is pretty interesting to History fans and others. The Fair had unrealistic expectations which its intention to make the US on the same plane as France (of the 1889 Exhibition and it's Eiffel Tower) as well as making Chicago on par with New York City and Philadelphia as major American cities; but it ultimately succeeds.
That part of the book (which is the majority of pages) rules the book, but suffers because the Holmes story is so riveting. Even in 2015 in a world of Saw movies and Court TV, Holmes is fascinating. He is pure evil, and just as charming as he is evil. It's unbelievable. Is he Satan on Earth? It doesn't seem to be beyond the realm of possibility.
The Fair sees the invention of the Ferris Wheel, Columbus Day, shredded wheat. Juicy Fruit gum and is inhabited by an unforgettable group of characters- Buffalo Bill, Helen Keller, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, Theodore Dreiser, Clarence Darrow and many more who came through the fair.
This came with high expectations and I felt they were justified. I read many reviews that didn't like the juxtaposition, and I guess, I get that, but I thought it worked fine. The timing puts both events going on at the same time, and the Birth of Chicago as an event plays a big part in both- the expectations to make Chicago more than a city of stock yards and slaughthouses, as well as a city where women for the first time left to make it on their own (a fact which plays well into Holmes' hands). Well recommended for the history buffs who will get a lot of great trivia, as well as a True Crime story that burns in the mind like none since.
The President is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth by Matthew Algeo - I was really impressed with the first book I read by Algeo (Pedestrianism) and wanted to see how he would handle another favorite topic of mine besides sports, which is history and politics.
I couldn't find Algeo at my BigBox local store so off to Amazon I went. Algeo seems to have a knack like Sarah Vowell to find some obscure but very interesting stories hidden deep in the past (though Algeo, doesn't put his political beliefs on his sleeve like Vowell does. PiaSM is largely non-partisian).
History books tend to skip the period from Civil War to at least Teddy Roosevelt, if not to World War 1. There are a series of Presidents, mostly Republican, mostly one term, mostly bearded, and mostly from Ohio. One suspects if there is any story to tell, it would be in Grover Cleveland, the guy who shows up twice on those free Presidential rulers your teacher or bank gave you.
The truth is the Executive Branch was not particularly powerful in those years, which is reflected in some of the Men who held it not seeming to be particularly interested in staying in office.
The other part is that the major issue of the day was the currency issue, and the whole gold vs silver debate is confusing. Although this contradicts what I just said about History books above, I have actually been reading a lot of books focused on the late 19th Century. Credit to Algeo for probably the best description of both sides of that debate I have read, and why people felt strongly either for a Silver or Gold Standard.
Cleveland is an interesting character and a stronger leader than some of his predecessors. He is very Conservative and would do well today with those against government "handouts". The book revolves around a story of the time in which Cleveland discovers a tumor in his mouth, and improbably, keeps it hidden by having it removed during what appears to outsiders as a boating trip.
Because of the subject matter, we get background on 19th century medicine, surgery, dentistry, and anesthesia, as well as the politics of the day. All fascinating material for history buffs.
President Grant had died of cancer, and there was an extreme stigma around it, so it would have rocked the Nation if it had been let out. Similarly, the balance of Gold supporters and Silverites was within a few votes. Even in Cleveland's party were the supporters of William Jennings Bryan, and Cleveland's Vice President (the first Adlai Stevenson) was sympathetic. The Panic of 1893 (the country's worst financial crisis besides the Great Depression) makes things shaky as it is.
So, it is a cover up, and things go well. Things go well with the surgery- which is even amazing by today's standards- and things go well with the cover up. There are plenty of distractions like the birth of Cleveland's daughter, plus also an attitude in the press not to rock the boat so to speak.
Meanwhile, a journalist named EJ Edwards finds the truth out and publishes it. He's vilified for it for many years, and the public believe the "always honest" Cleveland.
It makes for a very interesting story. It also brings to mind questions which I don't know the answer to. Is it better or worse for the public to know? If the public knew the real situation, it indeed may have made the economy worse, and given that Cleveland survived, would have been an unnecessary scare. Yet, we value the truth over all else, right?
A really interesting book for all of the reasons above, and well recommended for history buffs who will be well engrossed into it.
