In Erik Larson's "The Devil in the White City," a striking image is painted of Calumet, where a thousand elaborate streetlamps stand uselessly in a swamp. Instead of serving a practical purpose, these lamps merely light up the fog and attract swarms of mosquitoes, highlighting the disconnect between man-made beauty and the inhospitable surroundings. This scene captures the struggle between human ambition and nature's indifference.

Throughout the book, Larson intertwines the historical context of the 1893 World's Fair with darker elements of crime and morality. The ornate streetlamps symbolize the grandeur of the fair, but also serve as a reminder of the underlying chaos and danger that lurked during this vibrant yet tumultuous period in American history.