Grand, Gloomy and Peculiar HB
Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave

Like most slaves in early America, Stephen Bishop dreamed of freedom. But when his master brought him to Mammoth Cave in 1838, he found a new obsession—exploring the vast reaches of what would one day be the world’s longest cave. Grand, Gloomy, and Peculiar: Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave is based on the true story of America’s first great cave explorer, whose magnificent discoveries helped pave the way for Mammoth Cave to become a national park a century later. Written from the perspective of Stephen’s wife, Charlotte, this carefully researched novel combines adventure, history, humor and romance. It is a fascinating tale of two remarkable people whose passion for the world below them was surpassed only by their love for each other.

Roger W. Brucker
2009
269 pages, Hardbound