Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison (born February 18, 1931) is one of the most prominent authors in world literature, having won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. Through her writings and other works, Morrison was also instrumental in bringing recognition to the genre of African American literature. Several of her novels are included among the canon of American literature, including The Bluest Eye, Beloved (winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction), and Song of Solomon. Her writings are known for dealing with epic themes, for Morrison's writing of dialogue, and for her detailed depictions of African Americans. Beloved was released in 1998 as the film Beloved starring Oprah Winfrey

Morrison's early years

Morrison was born as Chloe Anthony Wofford on February 18, 1931 in Lorain, Ohio. Morrison was the second of four children in a working-class African American family. As a child Morrison read constantly (among her favorite authors were Jane Austen and Tolstoy). Morrison's father, George Wofford, a welder by trade, told her numerous folktales of the black community (a method of storytelling that would later work its way into Morrison's writings).

Related Topics:
February 18 - 1931 - Lorain, Ohio - Jane Austen - Tolstoy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1949 Morrison entered Howard University to study humanities. While there she changed her name from "Chloe" to "Toni," explaining that people found "Chloe" too difficult to pronounce. Morrison received a B.A. in English from Howard in 1953, then earned a Master of Arts degree from Cornell University in 1955.

Related Topics:
Howard University - Master of Arts - Cornell University - 1955

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~