Guest post written by The Ivory City author Emily Bain Murphy
Emily Bain Murphy is the critically acclaimed author of historical mysteries for adults and young adults. Her newest novel, The Ivory City, is a murder mystery romance set at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.
About The Ivory City: The Devil in the White City meets Pride and Prejudice in this romantic historical murder mystery set at the 1904 World’s Fair.
Rumor has it that the long-awaited Devil in the White City film adaptation is finally in the works. The infamous, real-life story follows two very different men—the architect behind the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the serial killer who terrorized it. The book captivated readers, spending over 370 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list and helping to solidify Erik Larson’s name at the top of the list of historical nonfiction authors. Now the film is purported to star Leonardo DiCaprio as he re-teams with director Martin Scorsese to show the progress, imagination, and horror that took place at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
In the meantime, here are a few books and movies to binge while we wait for it to hit the big screen.
BOOKS
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson
This historical nonfiction story has to be read to be believed. Larson details the intricate planning, vision, and setbacks of architect Daniel Burnham to create the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair—and the horrific schemes of H. H. Holmes, largely assumed to be the first serial killer in the United States. Read the book before the movie—it’s a case study of truth that is stranger than fiction.
City of Scoundrels: The 12 Days of Disaster That Gave Birth to Modern Chicago by Gary Krist
In a similar vein, City of Scoundrels looks at 12 volatile days that happened in 1919 Chicago and changed the city’s trajectory. It covers a young child’s murder, the fiery crash of an airship dirigible, a race riot, and a transit strike—all events that fell like dominos and ignited a city over the course of two momentous weeks.
The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum
A fascinating look at how the development of forensic medicine impacted the roaring 20’s, where the formerly untraceable use of poison was a popular choice for murder.
The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal, and the Hunt for America’s First Serial Killer by Skip Hollandsworth
Though H. H. Holmes is largely credited as the United States’ first serial killer, Hollandsworth argues that the horrific title actually belongs to the unidentified murderer who terrorized Austin, Texas for a year in 1884. Known as the “Midnight Assassin” and the “Servant Girl Annihilator,” the killings abruptly stopped in 1885, and led to speculation that the killer might have crossed the ocean to become Jack the Ripper.
MOVIES
The World’s Greatest Fair
This documentary features early film footage, interviews, and an inside look at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The film looks at the Fair’s greatest triumphs in celebrating humanity’s progress, imagination, and inspiration, while also acknowledging its faults, ranging from the disturbing to the downright bizarre. A great behind-the-scenes look at another famous American World’s Fair.
Expo: Magic of the White City
This documentary about the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair features the voice of Gene Wilder as narrator. It was his last project before his death and shows the innovations, ranging from the Ferris Wheel to Cracker Jack, that inspired people like Walt Disney and Henry Ford.
Killers of the Flower Moon
DiCaprio and Scorsese have made six feature films together and Killers is their most recent endeavor. Based on the historical nonfiction book by journalist David Grann, the film covers the real-life horrific Osage murders and the events that led to the birth of the FBI.
Meet Me in St. Louis
This musical starring Judy Garland is a quieter drama about the Smith family. Set in St. Louis in the lead-up to the 1904 World’s Fair, it re-popularized its titular song, as well as introducing the original song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Meet Me in St. Louis was MGM’s most successful musical of the 1940’s. It’s a classic choice for World’s Fair-related films—and perhaps a bit of a palate cleanser from the more sordid tales on the list.
