In its third year, In Conversation brings together seasoned interviewer André Bernard, former Vice President of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, with innovative thinkers and influential voices whose contributions shape our culture today. Crossing the fields of politics, journalism, social science, and the arts, these conversations will explore fresh perspectives that spark curiosity and ignite new ways of thinking about the world.  

Robert A. Caro
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of The Years of Lyndon Johnson and The Power Broker
Thursday, July 10, 5:00 pm 

Robert A. Caro needs no introduction. A veritable literary giant, Caro is the author of Pulitzer Prize-winning biographies The Power Broker (Knopf, 1974), which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, and Master of the Senate (Knopf, 2002), the third book of Caro’s four-part series, The Years of Lyndon Johnson (Knopf, 1982-2012). In this exclusive interview, Caro will delve into the process behind his in-depth, decades-long research and distinctive narrative style. “Caro has a unique place among American political biographers,” stated The Boston Globe. “He has become, in many ways, the standard by which his fellows are measured.” This rare public appearance promises to be a thought-provoking opportunity for history buffs, literature lovers, and anyone captivated by the art of biography to witness an iconic American storyteller share insights about his craft. 

Robert A. Caro is regarded as one of the nation’s most celebrated historians for chronicling the lives of two transformative figures of the 20th century: Robert Moses and President Lyndon B. Johnson. For his biographies, The Power Broker (1974) and The Years of Lyndon Johnson (1982–2012), Caro has twice won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, twice won the National Book Award, three times won the National Book Critics Circle Award, and also won virtually every other major literary honor, including the Gold Medal from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Francis Parkman Prize, awarded by the Society of American Historians to the book that best “exemplifies the union of the historian and the artist.” In 2010 President Barack Obama awarded Caro the National Humanities Medal. In 2019, he published a memoir, Working (2019). Caro graduated from Princeton, was later a Nieman Fellow at Harvard, and worked for six years as an investigative reporter for Newsday. He lives with his wife, author Ina Caro, in New York City, where he is at work on the fifth and final volume of The Years of Lyndon Johnson. 

Photo: Joyce Ravid

This program has reached full capacity! To join the waitlist, click the link below:

General Admission:
$27 – Mount Members
$32 – Non-Members

*New* Rain or Shine Ticket:
$37 – Mount Members
$42 – Non-Members

Individual Rain or Shine Tickets guarantee admission to a program regardless of weather conditions. For a modest increase in the ticket cost, you are guaranteed a seat at events that need to be moved indoors to The Mount’s Stable Auditorium. General Admission tickets are available for each event as well; however, in the event of inclement weather — excessive heat or severe thunderstorms — you are not guaranteed a seat. General Admission tickets will be canceled and refunded if weather conditions prohibit us from hosting an event outside.

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• This one-hour talk takes place in The Mount’s Event Tent, an open-air, two-pole tent adjacent to the parking lot. Please be mindful of the weather and plan accordingly!
• In the event of extreme weather — excessive heat or severe thunderstorms — In Conversation talks may be moved indoors to The Mount’s Stable Auditorium. *New to 2025* The Mount is offering Rain or Shine Tickets, which guarantee admission to this program regardless of location! All ticketholders will be notified via email of a venue change at 2:00 pm the day of the program. Those with standard admission tickets will have their orders automatically canceled and receive full refunds within seven business days.
• Seating for all programs at The Mount is first come, first served. If you have seating preferences, we recommend arriving fifteen minutes early.
• Accessible seating is available! Please phone us in advance to discuss arrangements: 413-551-5111; ext. #2
• A book signing will follow this talk. Books can be purchased from The Mount Bookstore at the event or online from Bookshop.org.

Questions? Email: programs@edithwharton.org

This program is sponsored by:

What accessibility accommodations does The Mount offer? The Mount is a Massachusetts Cultural Council UP designated organization welcoming participants of all disabilities. Please contact us by phone: 413-551-5100 or by email: info@edithwharton.org to discuss accommodations needed to participate fully in this event. Golf carts will be available to shuttle those with mobility concerns between the parking lot and event venue. View The Mount’s Health and Safety Guidelines.