This is another book about power, its use and abuse. Power broker by robert caro, first edition abebooks. For those of us who adore his books on lyndon johnson and regard him as the best political biographer of the modern era, his first book, published in 1975 as another extraordinary achievement. There is something shakespearean about caros writing. So as ive been reading alongin what turns out to be a nearly 1200 page, absolute pageturner of a book ive been wondering how the power broker reacted to robert caros work. Robert caro is one of the most respected historians of our time. Robert moses and the fall of new yorka sevenyear ordeal that took the book. Caro is simply one of the best nonfiction books in english of the last forty years dominic sandbrook, sunday times. Oct 23, 2015 t echnically, robert caros book the power broker is a biography of urban planner robert moses, but that description feels laughably inadequate on multiple counts. This massive work is at the same time a biography of robert moses and the metropolitan new york city area. Hospitality has always been a potent political weapon. Robert moses and the fall of new yorka sevenyear ordeal that took the book through three publishers and two editors and nearly bankrupted carothe firsttime author got a surprise phone call from his agent, lynn nesbit. The passage of power follows lyndon johnson through both the most frustrating and the most triumphant periods of his career 1958 to1964.
President barack obama the most absorbing, detailed, instructive, provocative book ever published about the making and. One of the most acclaimed books of our time, winner of both the pulitzer and the francis parkman prizes, the power broker tells the hidden story behind the shaping and misshaping of twentiethcentury new york city and state and makes public what few have known. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Robert moses response to robert caros the power broker. If that was not enough, robert caro is a gifted and skilled writer and biographer.
Caro began his career as a biographer with the power broker, his 1974 book about robert moses, which was excerpted in four parts in the new yorker. Robert moses and the fall of new york, everywhere acclaimed as a modern classic, was chosen by the modern library as one of the hundred greatest nonfiction books of the twentieth century. Robert moses and the fall of new york, caro spent seven years tracing and talking with hundreds of men and women who worked with, for, or against robert moses, including a score of his top aides. Robert moses and the fall of new york is a 1974 biography of robert moses by robert caro. His memoir is a masterclass in how great books are built, and is peppered with great anecdotes about people of power. Sep 16, 1974 one of the most acclaimed books of our time, winner of both the pulitzer and the francis parkman prizes, the power broker tells the hidden story behind the shaping and misshaping of twentiethcentury new york city and state and makes public what few have known. So as ive been reading alongin what turns out to be a nearly 1200 page, absolute pageturner of a book ive been wondering how the power broker reacted to. Moses is pictured as idealist reformer, and political manipulator as his rise to power and eventual domination of new york state politics is documented. Since then ive reread it three or four times over the years. Mar 23, 2012 caro began his career as a biographer with the power broker, his 1974 book about robert moses, which was excerpted in four parts in the new yorker. At the height of his power robert moses was emperor of nearly all new york state public worksbridges, highways, housing, parks, electrical power, the worlds fair and the united nationswithout ever holding elected office.
Robert moses and the fall of new york is a pulitzer prizewinning biography of robert moses by robert caro. Caros monumental the years of lyndon johnson displays all the narrative energy and illuminating insight that led the times of london to acclaim it as one of the truly great political biographies of the modern age. Every mp, wonk and wouldbe wonk in westminster has read robert caros the years of lyndon johnson, because they think it is the greatest insight into power ever written. In his chairmanship of twelve agencies from 1924 to 1968, moses spent at least 27 billion dollars. It is, according to david halberstam, surely the greatest book ever written about a city. President barack obama the most absorbing, detailed, instructive, provocative book ever published about the making and raping of modern. Robert moses and the fall of new york paperback july 12, 1975. Time magazine chose it as one of the hundred top nonfiction books of all time. He examined mountains of files never opened full biography link to robert a. Power brokers on robert caros the power broker bloomberg.
I first picked up the power broker when it was published 25 years ago. Even after 1200 pages and approximately 700,000 words i still didnt want it to end. But the power broker is first and foremost a brilliant multidimensional portrait of a manan extraordinary man who, denied power within the normal framework of the. Caro was awarded his first pulitzer prize for the book, which became known as a.
President barack obama the most absorbing, detailed, instructive, provocative book ever published about the making and raping of modern new. Caro goes into great detail at charting the rise to power of robert moses. The power broker robert a caro bok 9781847923646 bokus. Caros biography of johnson, the passage of power, was published in 2012 and won the national book critics circle award for biography in 20. Robert moses and the fall of new york, has entered the realm of authorial legend.
It is, according to david halberstam, surely the greatest book. One of the most acclaimed books of our time, winner of both the pulitzer and the francis parkman prizes, the power broker tells the hidden story behind the shaping and misshaping of twentiethcentury new york and makes public what few have known. The book focuses on the creation and use of power in local and state politics, as witnessed through moses use of unelected positions to design and implement dozens of highways and bridges. After working for many years as a reporter, caro wrote the power broker 1974, a biography of new york urban planner robert moses, which was chosen by the modern. Moses is an interesting and important figure in new york history, but caros writing elevates him to an almost machiavellian character. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Robert moses is a young man with a dream to build an infrastructure for the new york city area.
In 1974, to go along with publication of the book, long excerpts had appeared in four issues of. Caro was awarded his first pulitzer prize for the book, which became known as a classic in the field of urban planning. Robert allan caro born october 30, 1935 is an american journalist and author known for his biographies of united states political figures robert moses and lyndon b. The elements of the tale are familiar, at least among journalists and writers. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Robert moses and the fall of new yorka sevenyear ordeal that took the book through three publishers and two. In his chairmanship of twelve agencies from 1924 to 1968, moses spent at least 27 billion dollars with immense inefficiency, utter disregard for opponents and maximum. Well, the book that got the most criticism was the power broker. Surely the greatest book ever written about a city. T echnically, robert caros book the power broker is a biography of urban planner robert moses, but that description feels laughably inadequate on multiple counts.
For his biographies of robert moses and lyndon johnson, robert a. Robert moses and the fall of new york by caro, robert a. Caro published by a borzoi book published by alfred a. David halberstam i think about robert caro and reading the power broker back when i was twentytwo years old and just being mesmerized, and im sure it helped to shape how i think about politics. The power broker, 40 years later the new york times. Robert moses and the fall of new york new title by robert a caro isbn. Apart from the book s being so good as biography, as city history, as sheer good reading, the power broker is an immense public service. Everywhere acknowledged as a modern american classic, winner of the pulitzer prize, and chosen by the modern library as one of the hundred greatest books of the twentieth century, the power broker is a huge and galvanizing biography revealing not only the saga of one mans incredible accumulation of power, but the story of the shaping and misshaping of new york in. The power brokers robert moses and the fall of new york, by robert a. Everywhere acknowledged as a modern american classic, winner of the pulitzer prize, and chosen by the modern library as one of the hundred greatest books of the twentieth century, the power broker is a huge and galvanizing biography revealing not only the saga of one mans incredible accumulation of power, but the story of the shaping and misshaping of new york in the twentieth century.
Jane jacobs required reading for all those who hope to make their way in urban politics. Caro has twice won the pulitzer prize, twice won the national book award, three times won the national book critics circle award, and has also won virtually every other major literary honor, including the gold medal in biography from the american academy of arts and letters and the francis parkman prize. Robert caros monumental book makes public what few outsiders knew. This damning portrait of the planner who most shaped modern new york, aside from being a considerable work of. The book focuses on the creation and use of power in local and state politics, as witnessed through moses use of unelected positions to design and implement dozens of highways and bridges, sometimes at great cost to the communities he nominally served. Caro and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The sentences, pages, and chapters are beautifully written and are immensely gripping. Book excerpts are provided by the publisher and may contain language some find offensive.
The secrets of lyndon johnsons archives, by robert a. For a long time after it was published in 1974, 40 years ago, for a couple of decades probably, i never opened the book. The oath that was administered to robert wagner in city hall on january 1, 1954, should have given wagner supreme power in new york. Technically, robert caros book the power broker is a biography of urban planner robert moses, but that description feels laughably inadequate. From the twotime pulitzer prizewinning author of the power broker and the years of lyndon johnson. Working on the power broker researching it, writing it took me seven years, and when i finished i was sure i never wanted to see it again. There are some great lines, including a quote from a veteran new york. Everywhere acknowledged as a modern american classic, winner of the pulitzer prize, and chosen by the modern library as one of the hundred greatest books of the twentieth century, the power broker is a huge and galvanizing biography revealing not only the saga of one mans incredible accumulation of power, but the story of the shaping and misshaping of new york in the.
Tells the tale of new york and us politics in the early and mid 20th century in great detail. The power broker the power broker audiobook, by robert a. It is a true monument to caro that this book has remained in print in both hc and pb over these years. Praise surely the greatest book ever written about a city.
Caro has won two pulitzer prizes, two national book awards, and three national book critics circle awards. Power brokers on robert caros the power broker keenan mayo. Here jim adds an important piece to the discussion of the power broker, moses reaction to the book. The power broker ivpoint of no return the new yorker.
In democratic america,supposedly, ultimate power rests in the voters, and the man for whom a majority of. Jul 12, 2017 in the spring of 1974, after robert a. The london sunday times has said that caro is the greatest political biographer of our times. Caro is the story of robert moses and the construction of the parks, bridges, highway system, united nations building, and other structures in new york. Robert moses and the fall of new york is discussed.
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