The Great Fire by Jim Murphy is a gripping non-fiction account of the devastating 1871 Chicago fire that burned for two terrifying days. Through eyewitness accounts, newspaper reports, and photographs, the book follows the fire's rapid spread, the desperate attempts to stop it, and the panic that gripped the city. It reveals how human error, weather conditions, and poor city planning combined to create one of America's worst urban disasters. The narrative also highlights the resilience of survivors who rebuilt Chicago from the ashes.