"I was born with the devil inside me," writes Dr. H. H. Holmes in his confession (1.10.25).
Whether he's actually the spawn of Satan or not—and we're guessing "not"—Holmes certainly has some devilish ways. His own version of hell, the hotel on 63rd and Wallace, which is outfitted with gas chambers, a vault, and an incinerating kiln, becomes a sort of sick playground for its creator.
Meanwhile, outside of Holmes' hell, great things are happening on the Chicago fairgrounds. The magical White City (named for its whitewashed exterior) delights visitor after visitor, and unlike the hellish Holmes castle, the White City is a place of dreams.
But outside of the fairgrounds, in what is dubbed "the Black City," Holmes goes on murder sprees, the nation slips into economic turmoil, and labor unrest threatens to topple industries. At least within the walls of the White City, people can escape and experience exciting sights and sounds for the first time.
The Devil in the White City is also your classic good/evil, dark/light, tale. It showcases the two sides of humankind: that we can use our gifts to carry out the ways of the devil, or we can use them to create an amazing display of human achievement.
The choice, dear reader, is yours.