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Ghost Empire
Non-member price: $54.63
Publisher's Summary
Ghost Empire is a rare treasure - an utterly captivating blend of the historical and the contemporary, realised by a master storyteller.
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 - centred around the legendary Constantinople - we are swept into some of the most extraordinary tales in history. The clash of civilisations, 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. Ghost Empire is a revelation: a beautifully told ode to a lost civilisation, and a warmly observed father-son adventure far from home.
What members say
Average Customer Ratings
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Fjp
- 23-04-2017
Loved it.
We travelled through Turkey for 6 weeks in May/June 2013 with our 2 boys aged 15 & 13, it is a magical place with so much history and beauty.I wish I had of had this book before we went to Turkey , to understand a more in depth history of the place.The only thing I really knew about Turkey was about Gallipoli and our Anzacs.It blew me away how rich and interesting the history of Turkey is (I did modern history in high school which I loved, but now wish I had done ancient as well) , Richard and Joe's visit had many similarities to ours and I thoroughly enjoyed the interwoven history.Richards calm tone makes it a very easy to listen to audiobook.I am going to buy the hardback copy as well just to have it in my library. This book took me back to Beautiful Turkey and back to Byzantium.
9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rodney Wetherell
- 05-09-2016
Great story of long decline
Once into this reading, I could barely stop listening. Richard Fidler has written and read superbly.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Karla
- 18-05-2019
Interesting and compelling
I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was an interesting insight to a part of history we here little about. The author re-told compelling stories of the times in a way the average person can relate to.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Darryl Sim
- 29-04-2018
enlightening and warm, stranger than fiction
i learnt more about the history of that region than i could have imagined. lovely father son experience.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 11-12-2017
Richard and Joe
I enjoyed this journey a lot- enlightening historical anecdotes and numerous intimate moments between father and son.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kristy
- 01-08-2017
Engrossing
A brilliantly written title and performed so perfectly by the author. There is nothing better than hearing stories the way in which they were intended to be heard.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Dan T
- 29-08-2016
Well put together
Places the listener into the perspective of the times. I found myself willing this ongoing line of Emperors to "get a clue", but the history is fixed with all the human flaws.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- AntFromOz
- 09-01-2020
Great story to listen to
Listening to this book, narrated by the author, is like being in the presence of raconteur with a bottomless bag of stories. Richard Fidler makes the history of the Eastern Roman empire come alive. The stories of his travels, accompanied by his son, and the sympathetic tone of the book, makes that history come alive. I highly recommend this audiobook.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-12-2019
Rattling good tale well told.
I could listen to Richard read another like it straight away. Great stuff. Well done.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 21-11-2019
Fantastic , highly recommended
I was so impressed , I loved it. Very well told and I loved the interaction between dad and Joe. It has inspired me to take my son there too.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Wendy
- 30-03-2018
Great Listen
What did you love best about Ghost Empire?
Well written and read by Richard Fidler. A fascinating history of a strategic, important city, inhabited and fought for by diverse cultures.
Any additional comments?
It is such a pity that Constantinople and Byzantine are pronounced with incorrect emphasis. As they occur frequently it becomes annoying.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- TAO
- 05-10-2017
Unraveled byzantine history
Very much enjoyed the exploration of an old city. The movement between the contemporary and the past was presented in a way that pulls you in. I have wanted to do something similar but Erdogan and the occasional crack downs give me pause. As does all the rest of the regional chaos. The trip to Roman ruins is on the list and this book upped the desire factor.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JL
- 11-06-2017
Interesting story by a great storyteller
Interesting history of Byzantium combined with a travelogue of Istanbul and Rome. The author is an excellent and captivating storyteller with a great ability to weave a complicated yet easy to follow story. His depiction of the Fourth Crusade is probably the best I've heard and truly captures pointless tragedy of the affair. He doesn't dive into as great of detail on some issues that other histories cover, namely the theological disputes, but that is probably for the better in keeping the story moving. Definitely recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- B. Jobe
- 24-03-2017
Great presentation
The journalist Fidler does a really wonderful and entertaining presentation both in content and narration. Like an excellent song sung by the songwriter, Fidler imparts emotion at the level the text demands. There may be new things for Byzantine history buffs but mostly is is enjoyable the way he put it together. Everyone who loves history whether you care for Byzantine history or not should listen. It will grab you from the start.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jack M.
- 28-02-2017
loved it
Richard Fidler is such a compelling narrator. his enthusiasm for the story behind this fascinating place is infectious.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Isobel Stevenson
- 19-01-2018
The writer isn't always the best narrator
I was very much looking forward to this book - very, very much - but the outdated gender philosophies around father/son relationships and the narrator's dull and charmless delivery made it impossible to get through chapter one. I'm going to try again in hard copy. Maybe.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David H. Cats
- 06-09-2016
Fabulous Book
A well written and well narrated book which brought history to life with a breath of fresh air and a father and son rite of passage. Absolutely loved it and highly recommend.