Grand, Gloomy & Peculiar: Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave: A Historical Novel

by Roger W. Brucker, Richard A. Watson (Editor), Hilary Lambert (Editor)

Like most slaves in early America, Stephen Bishopdreamed of freedom. But when his master brought him to Mammoth cave in Kentucky 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 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. As a guide, Stephen was extraordinarily popular with tourists, and his reputation spread throughout the United States and Europe. Written from the perspective of his wife, Charlotte, this carefully researched novel combines adventure, history, humor, and romance. Indeed, it is a fascinating tale of two unforgettable slaves whose passion for each other, and for the cave below, made it possible for them to endure an otherwise intolerable existence.

270 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Marieta Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

While visiting National Parks I like to ask the bookstore staff for reading recommendations. I probably would not have purchased this book on my own, but I'm very glad it was among the ones the staff recommended. I believe that buying the books they have for sale is a good way to help support the park. Sometimes I wonder which is better, purchasing and reading the books before visiting the park, or after. Both ways seem to offer advantages, but mostly I end up reading after the visit.

This book reveals a glimpse of the beginnings of the park and the slave who was a passionate explorer of the cave and a popular guide. The story, set before the Civil War, also helps readers to understand a part of the slave culture that we don't hear much about. Steven found romance in exploring the cave, as well as in a slave girl, Charlotte. Sometimes Charlotte wonders if he loves the cave more than her.

The story is told from Charlotte's viewpoint and sometimes she uses her memories to teach significant, universal life lessons: who are the takers, who are the givers and takers, and who are the givers.

Highly recommend!

[Lisa Penninga · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must-read after going through the Mammoth caves, but overall an excellent read regardless. After reading the 1619 project last month, I loved learning that the majority of discovered caves at Mammoth Cave were found by Stephen Bishop, who was enslaved by numerous philanthropists. I loved his mantra throughout the book from Charlotte’s POV. She loved him and his dreams of exploration. While Stephen Bishop gets the credit for so many discoveries, he didn’t earn them as a free man. The author does a great job showing the hypocrisy of our country and freedom by showing how white men used Bishop’s talents while taking in the money themselves. They also made couples wait to get married over a year to ensure that wouldn’t distract their work ethic.

Both Charlotte and Stephen Bishop made the best of their circumstances and loved one another deeply. It was so fun reading how he discovered parts of the cave I had been in earlier this week! We saw his gravestone in the park with the other tour guides, and it is awesome to see his legacy live on in the rangers and their passions for the caves!

[K.C. Norton]

I had some issues with many passages, but I think the intent was positive even when I winced. The best parts of this are the passages about historical context; the emotional depth is lacking but my sense is that the author was trying to be as accurate as possible about history without injecting too much speculation, so overall this was worth the read, even if I’m not sure who I would recommend it to. Older white man writing from the POV of young enslaved Black woman had some shortcomings, and I thought it was an interesting (read: dubious) choice to title this book as being a story about Stephen Bishop while making Charlotte the main POV. Her name only appears as an afterthought even in the blurb.

Anyway, I could get into the weeds on this one, but I’m fascinated by Stephen Bishop and by the other guides/explorers at Mammoth Cave in the early 1800s, and I’ll take what I can get. 🙂

[David Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story of slavery, love and the growth of two young black slave and the love they had for each other and the love they had for Mammoth cave well before it became a national park. Stephen is a guide in the cave and at the same time an explorer who in fact finds many of the main features of Mammoth cave and is an excellent story teller as he leads people thru the came. This story all happens before the civil war so we get to see the good and the bad in the slave owners.

[Katy Stanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this well-researched, fictionalized narrative about the lives of Stephen and Charlotte Bishop. I love learning history through story and Brucker's novel makes readers feel and see the cave they explored and every detail of their fierce, courageous lives. This book enhanced my experience of seeing Mammoth Cave for the first time. I highly recommend it, especially to young readers trying to understand the importance of history and their place in it.

[Geriann Albers · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually do not pick up books on vacation at the visitor center bookstores, but I fell for this one. We were visiting Mammoth Cave, KY, a national park. I saw this book, bought it, and read it on vacation. A fictionalized version of his life it gives a good insight into what life was like and how he lived and explored the cave. It wasn't always the best writing, often straying into side subjects in great detail. It would be helpful to those who did not know about this details at this point of history, but I am not sure that a younger reader would have found this enjoyable. I enjoyed the timely read and background on a very interesting person who made Mammoth Cave what it is today.