Robert Caro, Robert Moses, and New York, 40 Years after The Power Broker

Forty years ago, Robert Caro’s Pulitzer Prize winning book The Power Broker revealed the hidden story of how Robert Moses shaped New York City, and New York State. Caro will join us to discuss the upcoming PEN auction of an annotated edition of The Power Broker, which he revisited for the first time in 40 years. First Editions/Second Thoughts (FEST), an auction of one-of-a-kind books and works of art to be held December 2 at Christie’s New York, is expected to raise substantial funds to support PEN's mission to defend freedom of expression and to celebrate the literature that such freedom makes possible. The full collection of annotated works will be on public view at Christie’s starting November 17.

Robert Moses engineered the Long Island Expressway so that light rail can NEVER be built next to it, says Caro. http://t.co/lP26ITwpwv

— Leonard Lopate (@LeonardLopate) November 26, 2014

Robert Moses hated public transit & viewed it as competition for toll $, which was the basis of his political power. http://t.co/lP26ITwpwv

— Leonard Lopate (@LeonardLopate) November 26, 2014

@LeonardLopate Moses remains detested in #rockaway but I can't help but think where we'd be with #sandy recovery were he in charge.

— Oceanus11693 (@NarrowbackSlack) November 26, 2014

Caro's own notes in his book The Power Broker.

(Courtesy of Rubenstein)

Caro's own notes in his book The Power Broker.

(Courtesy of Rubenstein)

Caro's own notes in his book The Power Broker.

(Courtesy of Rubenstein)