Richard Fidler (1) (1964–)
Author of Ghost Empire
For other authors named Richard Fidler, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Richard Fidler is an Australian radio presenter, musician and writer, born on November 11, 1964. He is a former member of the Australian comedy group, Doug Anthony All Stars (1980s-1994). He was a television presenter for Race Around the World and several other shows. In politics, he was a member show more of the National Committee of the Australian Republican Movement and served as chair of the Constitutional Issues Committee (2001-2007). In 2005 he became host of the 7-10pm shift of 612 ABC Brisbane. Later he moved to the 11am-3pm shift to an interview program Conversations. His first book is entitled Ghost Empire. In 2018, he won the Indie Book Award for Non-fiction with his book, Saga Land. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by Richard Fidler
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Reviews
The Book Of Roads And Kingdoms by Richard Fidler
As I've said many times, I do love a good popular history book. This was good but not great (I'm obviously feeling a bit fussy these days). There was a heap in this book and the paragraphs read well but for some reason the sections just didn't gel as well. This is actually the first book I've read by Richard Fidler and that may be the issue here. I've heard him talked up so much I was expecting something astounding, something that in truth few books could achieve. I'm still planning on reading Saga Land when I get the chance. This was purchased as a gift for my father so it'll be passed on.… (more)
A pleasing history of Byzantium/Constantinople and the with an emphasis on story rather than deconstruction or analysis. Framed by a trip to modern Istanbul with his son, Richard Fidler reconstructs the whole story of the Eastern Roman Empire until the final conquest of Constanstinople (and the absolute end of the Roman Empire) by the Turks in 1453. I didn't know a lot of it, so I found it fascinating.
Richard Fidler is said to have 'a passion for the rich history of the dazzling Byzantine Empire'. We have all heard snippets of parts of that history. It is clear that he has read and experienced a lot in that area, but is this the book to get a grasp of that (whole) history? For this novice, probably not.
I very much enjoy, and am a regular listener to) Fidler's hour long 'Conversations' on Radio National (Aust Broadcasting Corp), where he and his colleague Sarah Kanowski, interview someone as to their book, adventure or story (science, history, personal experience or whatever). Both hosts are past masters of steering the discussion, getting the best quotes out of the guest, and keeping the ball rolling. On many occasions, where the dialogue is focussed on a newly published book, I have subsequently purchased the book. Usually the book is worth while in its own right. Occasionally, it is obvious that Conversations has achieved to mine the totality of the gold as found in that book. But I cannot think of an example where the book represents less than the Conversation. This tells me that Fidler (and Kanowski) are great interviewers and story tellers in their own right.
But I do not think that those talents are necessarily those needed to provide a history covering the 1000 or so years of this story, even if that history is aimed at the lay reader.
This is not to say that this is not readable: Fidler has a good turn of phrase, many set pieces and bon mots. But it is almost that there are so many feasts, marriages, deaths (including murders and suicides), that this reader at least loses the train of progression over the history. It does not help that many of the players have similar names or change/ adopt new names on ascension to the crown (not that Fidler could do much about that!).
Two things that may have assisted this reader may have been:
- a chronology as to the many central characters to refer to. This could have been either stand alone or incorporated into the 3 1/2 page Timeline which focuses on events rather than people;
- some decent maps. There are a number of maps in the book, but most are double postage stamp size that appear at the beginning of a chapter and show the extent of Roman empire/the empire/the empire in exile (are all of these referencing the same empire?) at the time relevant to the chapter in question. But much of the history is also driven by the peoples of places from other areas (some in close proximity) and yet they are not identified, if indeed they are within the map in question.
Much is made of the notion that Fidler travelled to Istanbul with his 14-15 year old son, Joe to show him the history and to allow Fidler to refine his previous thinking and the shape of the book. I have no doubt that Fidler and Joe very much enjoyed the time they spent together (I expect many would be jealous of the opportunity that they had), but the occasional references to Joe and the questions each asked each other and their travels added little to actual history and was at most a somewhat clunky method of progressing the 'story', so much so that it could have been lost without the book losing anything. Of course, I cannot comment as to whether the experience of Fidler travelling with his son none the less added to the output of Fidler which culminates in this book.
Overall, if looking for a:
- serious history of the Byzantine Empire, probably not;
- an introduction/ lay person's version of that history, possibly yes, particularly if you are familiar and enjoy Fidler's works/outputs.
Not being an expert in this area of history, unfortunately I cannot recommend an alternative history, if in fact an introductory book of the totality of that history exists.
Big Ship
7 June 2022… (more)
I very much enjoy, and am a regular listener to) Fidler's hour long 'Conversations' on Radio National (Aust Broadcasting Corp), where he and his colleague Sarah Kanowski, interview someone as to their book, adventure or story (science, history, personal experience or whatever). Both hosts are past masters of steering the discussion, getting the best quotes out of the guest, and keeping the ball rolling. On many occasions, where the dialogue is focussed on a newly published book, I have subsequently purchased the book. Usually the book is worth while in its own right. Occasionally, it is obvious that Conversations has achieved to mine the totality of the gold as found in that book. But I cannot think of an example where the book represents less than the Conversation. This tells me that Fidler (and Kanowski) are great interviewers and story tellers in their own right.
But I do not think that those talents are necessarily those needed to provide a history covering the 1000 or so years of this story, even if that history is aimed at the lay reader.
This is not to say that this is not readable: Fidler has a good turn of phrase, many set pieces and bon mots. But it is almost that there are so many feasts, marriages, deaths (including murders and suicides), that this reader at least loses the train of progression over the history. It does not help that many of the players have similar names or change/ adopt new names on ascension to the crown (not that Fidler could do much about that!).
Two things that may have assisted this reader may have been:
- a chronology as to the many central characters to refer to. This could have been either stand alone or incorporated into the 3 1/2 page Timeline which focuses on events rather than people;
- some decent maps. There are a number of maps in the book, but most are double postage stamp size that appear at the beginning of a chapter and show the extent of Roman empire/the empire/the empire in exile (are all of these referencing the same empire?) at the time relevant to the chapter in question. But much of the history is also driven by the peoples of places from other areas (some in close proximity) and yet they are not identified, if indeed they are within the map in question.
Much is made of the notion that Fidler travelled to Istanbul with his 14-15 year old son, Joe to show him the history and to allow Fidler to refine his previous thinking and the shape of the book. I have no doubt that Fidler and Joe very much enjoyed the time they spent together (I expect many would be jealous of the opportunity that they had), but the occasional references to Joe and the questions each asked each other and their travels added little to actual history and was at most a somewhat clunky method of progressing the 'story', so much so that it could have been lost without the book losing anything. Of course, I cannot comment as to whether the experience of Fidler travelling with his son none the less added to the output of Fidler which culminates in this book.
Overall, if looking for a:
- serious history of the Byzantine Empire, probably not;
- an introduction/ lay person's version of that history, possibly yes, particularly if you are familiar and enjoy Fidler's works/outputs.
Not being an expert in this area of history, unfortunately I cannot recommend an alternative history, if in fact an introductory book of the totality of that history exists.
Big Ship
7 June 2022… (more)
1 
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- 5
- Members
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- Rating
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