Grab your popcorn, because The Devil in the White City is better than a really good Netflix series. It tells the story of H. H. Holmes, America's serial-killing psychopath (though the term "psychopath" wouldn't appear in medical books until a bit after Holmes' time). Stories of London's Jack the Ripper had already inspired something of an underground cult in America, but no one had imagined a guy like Holmes.
The charming doctor is as cool as a cucumber, killing at five o'clock and sitting down to dinner at six. He's methodical in his ways and meticulous in his manners—like Hannibal Lecter, only spookier.
Questions About Madness
- How does Holmes exhibit traits of madness? What explains this madness?
- Why does Holmes describe himself as the devil?
- What are Holmes' motives to kill?
- Why does Holmes lie in his confession and during his final days?
Chew on This
Holmes' bloodlust likely began in childhood. He read the gory tales of Poe, witnessed the death of a friend, and tortured small animals for fun.
Holmes' curiosity about the human body likely began in medical school, as he experimented with cadavers and learned about the control he could have over the life of another.