Erik Larson’s book Devil in the White City portrays the story of “the brilliant architect behind the legendary 1893 world’s fair,” The fair was intended to portray the ideal city, one without vices or sins, and it did. Visitors and residents of Chicago were struck by polarizing images of the dark and evil old Chicago, and the new white city. In the same way, the two main characters Daniel Burnham and Henry H. Holmes seem to be polar opposites yet are inextricably connected.
As a young man, Burnham attempted to keep a wide variety of jobs ranging from selling plate glass to mining gold. He didn't find any jobs to his liking, though, writing, “there is a family tendency to get tired of doing the same thing very long,” (pg19) that is until
