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Grand, Gloomy, and Peculiar: Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave
Grand Gloomy and Peculiar Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave
Author: Roger W. Brucker
Like most slaves in early America, Stephen Bishop dreamed 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 Peculiar: Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave is based on the true story of America's fir...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780939748716
ISBN-10: 0939748711
Publication Date: 10/1/2009
Pages: 270
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 2

3.5 stars, based on 2 ratings
Publisher: Cave Books
Book Type: Paperback
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review
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KentuckyReader avatar reviewed Grand, Gloomy, and Peculiar: Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave on + 37 more book reviews
Will appeal to anyone with an interest in Kentucky or Mammoth Cave, including cavers

While most books about slaves focus primarily on those who lived on, or escaped from, Southern plantations, Grand, Gloomy, and Peculiar is one of the few about the non-plantation slave experience. Stephen Bishop, was a cave explorer as well as slave, who became Mammoth Cave's most popular guide and America's first great cave explorer. What distinguished Stephen Bishop from most other slaves even more was the way he was treated. Although his owner clearly did not consider him as an equal, Bishop was nevertheless treated better than most slaves.

Grand, Gloomy, and Peculiar focuses mainly on Charlotte Brown Bishop, the widow of Stephen Bishop. The story begins with her childhood and continues through the years of her growing older, meeting Stephen Bishop and their marriage. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone.