Endless Caverns

Douglas Reichert Powell is associate professor of English at Columbia College Chicago and author of Critical Regionalism: Connecting Politics and Culture in the American Landscape.

"Endless Caverns is a personal odyssey of the author's travels through Appalachian show caves. A well-written book that will appeal to readers interested in Americana, the development and management of show caves, and the history of the Appalachian region."--CHOICE "[Powell] weaves narratives of his visits with archival research to create a regional history that demonstrates how caves are a vital part of Appalachian memory. . . . Endless Caverns is thoroughly researched and indexed; like its subject, it is both serious and whimsical."--Tennessee Libraries "Powell leaves no caving-related topic unexplored. . . . Reading the book was like talking to an acquaintance who is able to share his love of a particular topic and make us love it too. Anyone interested in the cultural history of the Southern Appalachian region, or anyone with even the most remote interest in caves, should pick up this book."--Journal of Appalachian Studies "Richert Powell is an engaging and often hilarious writer with a passion for show caves and all of the people that make them possible. He is a meticulous historian, an acute and often daring ethnographer, but most of all an audacious and creative storyteller."--West Virginia History "Weaving personal narrative with biographical sketches, history lessons, and insightful questions about the nature of being human, . . . [Powell's] book will inspire readers to visit a few show caves and, as the tour guide turns off the lights, reflect on how human nature, history, culture, and the physical world we inhabit are so closely tied together."--Georgia Library Quarterly