“Turn Every Page”: Documentary on Robert Caro & Robert Gottlieb, American Literary Giants and Their 50 Years of Working Together

[Idaeo]

Turn Every Page explores the remarkable fifty-year relationship between two literary legends, writer Robert Caro and his longtime editor Robert Gottlieb. Now 86, Caro is working to complete the final volume of his masterwork, The Years of Lyndon Johnson; Gottlieb, 91, waits to edit it. The task of finishing their life’s work looms before them. With humor and insight, this unique double portrait reveals the work habits, peculiarities and professional joys of these two ferocious intellects at the culmination of a journey that has consumed both their lives and impacted generations of politicians, activists, writers, and readers.

I watched this last night..if you’re into documentaries, literature and what goes on behind the scenes with authors and editors, you’ll love this.

The Power Broker was a Pulitzer winning biography in the 70s that tells the story of Robert Moses, the most powerful American public official most have never heard of. Moses is responsible for building most of the NYC expressways, city parks, Lincoln center, Triborough bridges, etc and tons more for 40+ years with unchecked power. The book is 1400 pages and it’s still one of most popular and lauded pieces of nonfiction.

Rob Caro wrote this and became a literary superstar. He went on to write 4 Lyndon Johnson biographies that are considered the gold standard in the genre. He’s still working on the 5th with his editor Rob Gottlieb, who’s one of the most prolific editors of all time. They’ve worked together since Power Broker and they’re hoping to finish before either passes away.