Ghost Empire

History

Fidler, Richard

Europe

ABC Books

Why does Grand Traverse County usually vote Republican? How did it come about that "A view of the Bay is worth half the pay?" How did the Ku Klux Klan gain a foothold locally? Where were the women of Grand Traverse in the nineteenth century? These and other questions are answered in discussions focused on important historical events, artifacts, and institutions of the Grand Traverse area. Thoughtful and at times provocative, Glimpses of Grand Traverse Past explores who we are and how we got that way. Illustrated with archived photographs, it presents a refreshingly new perspective on our local history. Richard Fidler taught biology in Traverse City for thirty-one years, though he has been a student of history for much longer than that. Sadly, he is not a native of the area but takes solace in the fact that his wife is.

Glimpses of Grand Traverse Past: Reflections on a Local History

Americas

Traverse Area Historical Society

escribes the social, political, environmental and moral issues of the regions' history. The author writes about how poor people in Grand Traverse County were cared for, past forays into dissension as well as patriotrism, crime and justice and humans' effect on Grand Traverse Bay.

Who We Were, What We Did: Fresh Perspectives on Grand Traverse History

"A brilliant reconstruction of the saga of power, glory, and invasion that is the one-thousand year story of Constantinople. A truly marvelous book." —Simon Winchester Ghost Empire is a rare treasure—an utterly captivating blend of the historical and the contemporary, narrated by a master storyteller. The story is a revelation: a beautifully written ode to a lost civilization combined with a warmly observed father-son adventure far from home. In 2014, Richard Fidler and his son Joe made a journey to Istanbul. Fired by Richard's passion for the rich history of the dazzling Byzantine Empire—centered around the legendary Constantinople—we are swept into some of the most extraordinary tales in history. The clash of civilizations, the fall of empires, the rise of Christianity, revenge, lust, murder. Turbulent stories from the past are brought vividly to life at the same time as a father navigates the unfolding changes in his relationship with his son.

Pegasus Books

Ghost Empire is a rare treasure—an utterly captivating blend of the historical and the contemporary, narrated by a master storyteller. The story is a revelation: a beautifully written ode to a lost civilization combined with a warmly observed father-son adventure far from home.In 2014, Richard Fidler and his son Joe made a journey to Istanbul. Fired by Richard's passion for the rich history of the dazzling Byzantine Empire—centered around the legendary Constantinople—we are swept into some of the most extraordinary tales in history. The clash of civilizations, the fall of empires, the rise of Christianity, revenge, lust, murder. Turbulent stories from the past are brought vividly to life at the same time as a father navigates the unfolding changes in his relationship with his son.

In some places history lurks just under the surface. An old factory whispers a story about its workers a hundred years ago. An ancient oak with its trunk curiously bent suggests times before white settlement. A gas station from the nineteen twenties reminds us of the first automobiles. A beacon atop a hotel signals to present-day boats upon the Bay as well as to early airplanes searching for a place to land. An artesian well still flows, one hundred and forty years after it was first drilled. Gateways to Grand Traverse Past identifies these magical places and tells the stories connected with them. Watch out! After reading this book the very ground you walk becomes living history. You will need to tread carefully as you pass from the present to the past and back again. “...delightful...well written and nicely designed to encourage further reading into the history of this wonderful area in Michigan.” —Francis X. Blouin, Professor of History, University of Michigan “...thoroughly interesting, easy-to-read and thought-provoking, often revealing the local underbelly and social attitudes of our area’s past.” —Loraine Anderson, Traverse City Record-Eagle writer and columnist “When you are done [reading]—and the writing is engaging and graceful—you have seen the past and understood the future with new eyes.” —Doug Stanton, author of "In Harm’s Way" and "Horse Soldiers"

Gateways to Grand Traverse Past

Mission Point Press

• Why does Grand Traverse County usually vote Republican? • How did it come about that “A view of the Bay is worth half the pay?” • How did the Ku Klux Klan gain a foothold locally? • Where were the women of Grand Traverse in the nineteenth century? These and other questions are answered in discussions focused on important historical events, artifacts, and institutions of the Grand Traverse area. Thoughtful and at times provocative, Glimpses of Grand Traverse Past explores who we are and how we got that way. lllustrated with archived photographs, it presents a refreshingly new perspective on our local history. “...delightful...well written and nicely designed to encourage further reading into the history of this wonderful area in Michigan.” — Francis X. Blouin, Professor of History, University of Michigan “Richard Fidler has presented Traverse City with another jewel for her ‘history crown.’ Meticulously researched...written in a highly entertaining style.” —Bob Wilson, author of "Legends of Grand Traverse" “The stories are interesting—well told, rooted in careful research, and placed in historical context.” —David Macleod, Professor of History, Central Michigan University

One hundred-sixty-five years ago the Boardman River emptied its waters into the West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay amid a vast forest of white pines, red pines, and oak trees. But for occasional villages of Odawa Indians, the area was largely uninhabited, the currents of history taking white settlers to places south and west of this isolated place at the end of a long peninsula. Sixty years later, the forests had disappeared, replaced by factories, vast retail stores made of brick, an Asylum, churches, schools, and residences as a primitive settlement grew into a small town. In time, the community shrank as residents moved away in search of better lives elsewhere in Michigan, many of them moving to the more prosperous southern part of the state. Still, change was not done: people began to return, seeking the grace the land and water offered them as they reinvented the basis upon which their lives were built. is is the story of Traverse City, Michigan and it is the story of this book.

Traverse City, Michigan: A Historical Narrative, 1850 – 2013

• A hundred years ago, who were the poor in Grand Traverse County and how were they taken care of? • How did Traverse City deal with dissent during times of intense patriotism? • What of crime and justice in the nineteenth century—who was being arrested locally and for what offenses? • How did human interventions change Grand Traverse Bay since white settlement? Who We Were, What We Did answers these and other questions in short, lively discussions of social, political, environmental, and moral issues. As in his earlier work, Glimpses of Grand Traverse Past, Richard Fidler reveals the colorful tapestry of our past, narrowing his focus to areas seldom explored by other writers. This is a book for all who love this beautiful region of Michigan and wish to learn more about it. “A completely fresh and fascinating look at the history of the Grand Traverse area. Believe me, you’ve never read history like this. When you’re done—and the writing is engaging and graceful—you have seen the past and understood the future with new eyes.” — Doug Stanton, author of In Harm’s Way and Horse Soldiers “Explores early twentieth century values, assumptions, and beliefs on seldom-addressed topics. Appropriate for all audiences. Informative and thought-provoking.” — Barbara Speas Havira, Ph.D, History Department, Western Michigan University “Captures a side of Traverse City history that enlightens and lls the reader with a desire to know more about our unique area.” — Jim Press, History Department, Northwestern Michigan College “A great follow-up to his Glimpses of Grand Traverse Past, Richard Fidler’s latest book, Who We Were, What We Did, is thoroughly interesting, easy-to-read and thought-provoking, often revealing the local underbelly and social attitudes of our area’s past. — Loraine Anderson, Traverse City Record-Eagle writer and columnist

We respect wolves, hawks and bobcats, love songbirds and lilies, and are moved by a sunset observed through pine boughs, but we do not care for poison ivy or winged ants. We ignore lichens even though we see them growing on trees everywhere, and we may not even know the names of other things that occupy our world: ventifacts, grape ferns, and club mosses. This book will awaken the reader to events and things tuned out and forgotten in the noisy, rushing environment of our lives. It is a safari to nearby places. Richard Fidler lovingly opens our eyes to Michigan’s less-than-lovely creatures, and gives us compelling reasons of why we need to treasure them all. His words fall onto the page as beautifully as the leaves of autumn. I loved this book! —Anne Stanton, Executive Director of the National Writers Series Wonderfully written and gorgeously illustrated. A wonderful compilation of overlooked things and events that will be enjoyed by those familiar with them as well by those who are introduced to them for the first time. —Julie Medlin, author of Michigan Lichens I like Richard Fidler’s personal stories that allow me to go exploring with him. Whoever knew the tiny worms that cause swimmer’s itch have such a peripatetic life? And that there are freshwater jellyfish? There is also a deep current in these short vignettes: as Fidler says of the forests destroyed by wind, “It’s wrong to take sides, since some living things require the housecleaning that enables them to thrive.” There are no insignificant beings, as Fidler so beautifully shows us. —Fleda Brown, poet and essayist

Of Things Ignored and Unloved: A Naturalist Walks Northern Michigan

Science & Math

Nature & Ecology

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Fidler, Richard. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Fidler, Richard

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Fidler, Richard. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Ghost Empire

Glimpses of Grand Traverse Past: Reflections on a Local History

Who We Were, What We Did: Fresh Perspectives on Grand Traverse History

Ghost Empire

Ghost Empire

Gateways to Grand Traverse Past

Glimpses of Grand Traverse Past: Reflections on a Local History

Traverse City, Michigan: A Historical Narrative, 1850 – 2013

Who We Were, What We Did: Fresh Perspectives on Grand Traverse History

Of Things Ignored and Unloved: A Naturalist Walks Northern Michigan