It's about a thrilling period in American history. We were facing our worst crisis since the Civil War, and [Roosevelt] managed, through an astonishing act of leadership to, I argue, save both capitalism and democracy in just a few weeks.
A sadistic serial killer posing as a doctor operates right under the noses of authorities running a great World's Fair, in Erik Larson's book. But this is not a clever work of fiction. The killer, H.H. Holmes, was real. The fair was the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, built by architect Daniel Burnham. When Larson realized two such engrossing characters worked practically side by side, he knew he had a book to write.
It's about a thrilling period in American history. We were facing our worst crisis since the Civil War, and [Roosevelt] managed, through an astonishing act of leadership to, I argue, save both capitalism and democracy in just a few weeks. 
