Welcome to Detroitland : Stories from the Motor City's Captivating Past

Fascinating episodes from Detroit's colorful—and sometimes tarnished—history.

This collection from award-winning journalist and storyteller Richard Bak shares fascinating and forgotten histories of Detroit. Each chapter takes readers on a journey through Detroit's surprising past, featuring figures like Hank Ballard, the suave originator of "The Twist"; parachute jumper and showman Clem Sohn, known as the "Bat-Man"; controversial minister James "Prophet" Jones, whose favorite color was dollar-bill green; Josephine Bielawski and the young women whose labor made Detroit "Cigar Central"; and Hall of Famers Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, who once faced off against incarcerated hockey fans. These true stories span the 1880s through the 1960s and draw on the city's bottomless well of unique characters and events. This is a must-read for Detroit history enthusiasts and those curious about the lives generating the heartbeat of the Motor City.