Big news for book nerds: Robert A. Caro’s fourth book* about Lyndon Johnson is coming out in May 2012, reports the AP.
The first three books were called The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power (1982); The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Means of Ascent (1990); and The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Master of the Senate (2002).
The fourth book will be called The Passage of Power. According to Knopf, who has published all of the LBJ books, this one will “focus on the years 1958 to 1964, from the time Johnson began seeking the presidency, through his years as vice president under John F. Kennedy, to becoming president after JFK’s assassination.” (Wow.)
So far, Caro’s LBJ books total more than 2,000 pages and have sold more than 1.5 million copies. Master of the Senate won the Pulitzer Prize in 2003, as well as the 2002 National Book Award.
I haven’t read Caro’s biographies myself, but my boyfriend feels the same way about them as Trisha feels about Robert K. Massie. Let’s just say that I’ve been treated to many a read-aloud from Caro’s books through the years. My favorite tidbit? Our 36th president was apparently as vulgar as he was ambitious, and enjoyed giving dictation and conducting other business while sitting on the toilet.
Have you been holding out for this day since 2002, when the last LBJ installment came out? Are you looking forward to reading The Passage of Power?
*Edited to add: I originally reported that this will be the fourth and final book in Caro’s series, but in fact there will be a fifth volume.
