The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America Theme of Perseverance

The Devil in the White City is chock full of perseverance.

Chicago's a city determined to score the bid for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Burnham's an architect resolved to secure his place among the greatest in architectural history. Ferris is an engineer dogged in his pursuits to out-Eiffel Eiffel's Tower.

And the great fair proves to be like nothing the world has seen before. Though difficulties creep up along the way and threaten to keep lofty visions from becoming a reality, no obstacle is too great when the dream is compelling enough.

1. Why does Chicago display great tenacity in the scramble to secure the fair bid? What role does civic honor play in this?
2. How does Chicago's perseverance change its self-image as a city of stockyards? How does the rest of the nation perceive Chicago during this time?
3. What obstacles threaten to prevent Burnham's vision from becoming a reality? Do any challenges triumph?
4. Why does the fair turn out to be Chicago's greatest pride?

Burnham and his architects are motivated by fear of failure. With mounting pressures from the nation to exceed the 1889 Paris Exposition, Burnham can't mess this one up.

The desire to succeed motivates Burnham and his architectural team to outdo the Paris Exposition. Who doesn't want to be the best?