The Black City
- Part I is called "Frozen Music," which is eerie.
- Even eerier? The beginning of this chapter informs us that it's the 1890's, and Chicago is filled with death. Great.
- In fact, the first six months of 1892 see nearly eight hundred violent deaths. "Four a day. Most were prosaic, arising from robbery, argument, or sexual jealousy" (1.1.3).
- Jack the Ripper over in London had captivated the nation's attention, but Americans don't believe such a thing could happen here.
- Enter: Dr. H. H. Holmes, a young and handsome doctor. And a real ladies' man.
- Upon arriving in Chicago, he immediately likes the smell of butchered cattle and pigs. Yeah, that's normal.