What is the easiest way to learn to play violin or fiddle?

I'm interested in learning to play my Grandfather's fiddle, which hasn't been played in over 20 some years. I'm a complete beginner, but a very quick learner. I do NOT want to learn Mary Had a Little Lamb or Ring Around the Rosie. I learn best by having something concrete and challenging to learn from and learning as I go. Or by using "building blocks": learning individual skills, perfecting them and then combining them and creating music as I go. I took a year of piano at 12. That's the extent of my musical education. I don't need a certificate, I don't need formal instruction, I just want to be able to pick up a fiddle and play it competently. I don't mean to trivialize the years of work musicians put into playing; I don't aspire to play the way they do. I just want a good command of some basic techniques that will allow me to play spontaneously. Is it best to learn by mimicking someone who plays well? Books? Play by ear?