Buckle up and join PBS Books and the Library of Congress as we visit Kentucky on our next stop in American Stories: A Reading Road Trip. Join us on October 22nd at 8 p.m. ET for the episode premiere on the PBS Books YouTube channel, or watch on the PBS Books Facebook page, the PBS app, or pbs.org. Visit pbsbooks.org/readingroadtrip to learn more.
Kentucky’s literary story is one that often surprises people, revealing a rich tradition of writers, thinkers, and storytellers whose influence extends far beyond the Bluegrass State. Robert Penn Warren (All the King’s Men) transformed questions of power and ambition into a sweeping portrait of American life. With Ain’t I a Woman?, bell hooks amplified voices and experiences that had too often been ignored, reshaping the way generations of readers and thinkers understood race, gender, and identity. At the Abbey of Gethsemani, Thomas Merton (The Seven Storey Mountain) found solitude among the hills, turning his search for meaning into writing that would reach readers around the world. And across Kentucky, a circle of writers known as the Fab Five found inspiration close to home. Gurney Norman (Kinfolks), James Baker Hall (Tobacco Harvest), Ed McClanahan (The Natural Man), Wendell Berry (Jayber Crow), and Bobbie Ann Mason (In Country) drew from the people, places, and rhythms they knew, transforming Kentucky life into stories that carried well beyond its borders. Together, their work helped solidify the Commonwealth as a place of literary imagination.
That spirit of looking beyond expectations continues in the voices shaping Kentucky’s literary landscape today. Frank X Walker (Affrilachia) gave new visibility to Black voices in Appalachia, creating a space for their stories, history, and experiences in a region often portrayed through a much narrower lens. In The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, Kim Michele Richardson brings the hills of Eastern Kentucky to life through the story of the Pack Horse Library Project, where women traveled winding mountain roads carrying books, stories, and new possibilities to remote communities. For generations of young readers, Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones (The Bailey School Kids series) have turned childhood imagination into adventures that keep kids turning the page while inspiring a lifelong love of reading. Silas House (The Tulip Poplars) writes with a deep connection to Appalachia, offering a more intimate portrait of a region too often reduced to stereotype. And Gwenda Bond (The Frame Up) brings a sense of adventure and possibility to stories that move across genres, blending fantasy, mystery, romance, and suspense in unexpected ways.
Kentucky’s literary life can be found in some unexpected places, from winding roads and underground caverns to the libraries, bookstores, and gathering places that keep readers connected. At Mammoth Cave, the world’s longest known cave system offers a landscape steeped in mystery, while Kentucky’s state parks preserve the natural beauty that has long shaped the stories of the region. At the Abbey of Gethsemani, visitors can experience the grounds where Thomas Merton found solitude and inspiration. Across the state, libraries such as the Lexington Public Library and the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning provide welcoming spaces for readers, writers, and ideas to come together, while independent bookstores keep that connection going from one community to the next.
About American Stories: A Reading Road Trip
Pack your curiosity —PBS Books is hitting the road! In partnership with the Library of Congress Centers for the Book, American Stories: A Reading Road Trip shines a spotlight on individual U.S. states and select territories to uncover their one-of-a-kind literary treasures.
From iconic authors and unforgettable books to hidden-gem bookstores, amazing libraries, and the real-life locations that inspired great works, this cross-country adventure celebrates the stories that have shaped our shared identity. Along the way, we’ll meet bestselling authors, passionate booksellers, and local storytellers —plus share highlights from local programs and events hosted by each state’s Center for the Book —revealing how their corner of America has left its mark on the nation’s imagination. Aligned with America’s 250th birthday, each episode invites viewers to explore the heart, history, and creative spirit of the United States —all through the lens of books and storytelling.
New episodes will stream on select Thursdays at 8pm EST on the PBS Books Facebook page, on the PBS Books YouTube channel, pbsbooks.org, and the PBS app.
About the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States –and extensive materials from around the world –both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
About PBS Books
PBS Books is a multi-platform initiative celebrating the love of reading. PBS Books is dedicated to connecting books with audiences by engaging them in unique experiences to spark their curiosity and encourage a life-long love of reading and learning. Through social and digital engagement and live coverage of important literary events across the country, PBS Books celebrates books and writers and works to foster a passion for reading among public media viewers and listeners.Visit pbsbooks.org, subscribe to the PBS Books YouTube channel, and follow PBS Books on social media to learn more.
