This is a very informative and fun look at the Chicago Columbian Exhibition. I enjoyed seeing pictures of the Midway and the Fair itself. The Fair was one of those touchstone Chicago moments that I love to read about.

For those readers who may have been tantalized and teased by the descriptions in Erik Larsons "The Devil in the White City" and those who may just be interested in knowing more about the grandeur that was the World's Colombian Exposition, Bolotin and Laing's work is the absolute perfect book. Through the written word and a wide assortment of photos, they have successfully created a delightful tour that is so detailed that their book ends up becoming something of a literary time machine that takes its audience on an exquisite trip back to 1893 Chicago.

What a cool topic! What a cool book! I love getting to examine the photographs and details about attendance and money taken in by Chicago's Grand Midway. I also appreciate the extensive list of sources at the end of the book. First rate research writing!

I know very little about World Fairs, but they've always fascinated me. I'm a similar age to the author and British, and I recall the interest in the Brussels Fair when I as a child. Seattle was the one that really inspired with the futuristic needle, the dawn of space travel and an Elvis Presley film to further highlight the interest. So I was delighted to have the opportunity it's to see an advance review copy of this book and it's truly incredible.

I've viewed it on an iPad and the photographic detail is amazing. So many of the photos look fresh and leap from the page. I had no. Idea that the Ferris wheel at thus time was such a mammoth construction and the contemporary pictures and plans give a real feel for the scale of the event, bringing it to vibrant life.

The scope, diversity and vision of the entire exposition is just mind blowing. In a digital age, it must be difficult to fully understand the importance of an event like this. I was surprised to learn that the British Crystal Palace fair was actually the first 'world' fair; a phrase coined by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband. But the scale of that event is dwarfed by the Chicago exposition and it's genuinely incredible to gain such detailed insight into how the area was set out and visualise the exhibits, people and landscape.

This is a book, in my view, best appreciated in hard copy. It's the type of book to browse and savour. If I could turn back time, this is a place and time I'd truly love to visit.

My thanks to University of Illinois Press for a review copy via Netgalley.