Erik Larson writes primarily narrative nonfiction. He is adept at putting a narrative spin over all of the facts and figures to make his stories compelling for today’s readers. The result isn’t bad. In fact his books are, for the most part, really good. In my opinion though, they do bend and blur the line between fiction and non. The speculative gloss coating his stories is thinner than historical fiction, but far too thick to call them purely historical.
#7 – In the Garden of Beasts
When I looked back at all of Larson’s books to compile this ranking, it was almost like I discovered In the Garden of Beasts for the first time again. That’s how completely I forgot it.
#6 – Thunderstruck
This is one of two Larson books that weave a tale of creation together with a tale of murder; the other being The Devil in the White City discussed below. His narrative in Thunderstruck is riveting, but the sheer volume of details bogs down a reader like me. My interest in the history of wireless is minimal and that’s what lands this book at sixth
#5 – The Demon of Unrest
This one read more like a history textbook than the rest of Larson’s works. Demon has its problems. The fascinating story of what led up to the events at Fort Sumter gets lost at times in a fair bit of self-indulgence from Larson. Just because he did the research, readers are asked to care about a few too many unlikeable, and in my opinion irrelevant, characters. Also, there wasn’t enough Lincoln.
#4 – The Devil in the White City
Based on the title and brief synopsis, one expects this book to be an interwoven tale where Holmes’ killings bear some attachment to the designing and ultimate execution of the World’s Fair. In fact, these events have almost nothing to do with each other. When the title promises “The Devil”, I expect a significant and compelling character to emerge (think Milton's Satan). However, of the ink that Larson spilt writing The Devil in the White City, less than 25% of it is dedicated to Holmes. The World's Fair chapters are interesting and well-written, but the book didn't deliver on its promise.
#3 – Isaac’s Storm
Isaac's Storm is an vividly told cautionary tale. In fact, it was published just a couple of years before Hurricane Katrina. Perhaps we will never learn. The writing in this book is not nearly as fine-tuned as it is in Larson’s more recent publications, but the story of this hurricane is extremely engaging. It’s a quick, easy read for anyone interested in the history of meteorology.
#2 – The Splendid and the Vile
The Splendid and the Vile is a book that grabbed my attention and never let go. It ranks second on my list mostly on the back of Churchill as a character. This book is entertaining and informative. It made me want to learn more, which is the best thing that I can say about a narrative nonfiction book like this.
#1 – Dead Wake
The scenes aboard the U-20 submarine are the most compelling. Larson himself admits enjoying this part of his research and writing the most. He fills these sections with pungent details about the cramped conditions, shoddy machinery, and the many horrible odors that a WWI submariner experienced.
The book’s climax, the attack and sinking of the Lusitania, is told in vivid and lucid prose that any novelist would be proud of. It’s extremely rare for me to wish a book would go on longer. I think most books overstay their welcome. Not Dead Wake.
That's my list. I'm interested in what everyone else thinks of Larson's works. I think he will serve as a good gateway to more historical reading for me. However, my hunch is that I'll enjoy other historical writers more than Larson once I get there.
by betterbooks_