Expositions and World's Fairs: In the Beginning

What impressed me most about McGlincy’s work is the depth of storytelling. His recounting of the Crystal Palace at the Great Exhibition of 1851 is more than a historical description, it feels like witnessing the birth of the modern world. He captures how Britain used that moment not just to display products, but to assert itself as the industrial center of the planet.The transition from that early Victorian fair to the breathtaking innovations of Chicago 1893 is handled brilliantly. I loved the

McGlincy’s description of the Crystal Palace in 1851 genuinely feels like stepping into the first global showroom of modernity. The moment he shifted to Chicago 1893 — with the debut of the first Ferris wheel, electric lighting, and the ‘White City’ I understood why this fair is still considered a cultural turning point. The depth of research is amazing, but even more impressive is how readable and immersive it all is.

On May 1, 1851, the people of Great Britain received a “gift” from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the form of a magnificent exhibition called The World’s Fair, an event meant to celebrate the accomplishments of industry in various fields. In a building called the Crystal Palace, the largest building in the world at the time, the royals and guests who’d purchased VIP passes to be there enjoyed the sight and spectacle of the event. In the new book “Exposition & World’s Fairs: In the Beginning