Ghost Empire

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 written ode to a lost civilisation, and a warmly observed father-son adventure far from home.