Beloved Nobel-Winning Author Toni Morrison Passes Away at 88
Nobel prize-winning author Tony Morrison passed away on Monday night, after a brief illness. She was, in the words of South Africa’s EFF, “a truth teller, a groundbreaking and visionary novelist, an essayist and a teacher”. Morrison’s publisher Alfred A. Knopf said in a statement on social media “We are profoundly sad to report that […]
Nobel prize-winning author Tony Morrison passed away on Monday night, after a brief illness. She was, in the words of South Africa’s EFF, “a truth teller, a groundbreaking and visionary novelist, an essayist and a teacher”.
Morrison’s publisher Alfred A. Knopf said in a statement on social media “We are profoundly sad to report that Toni Morrison has died at the age of eighty-eight.”
The publisher included one of Morrison’s quotes: “We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.”
Morrison, who was born 18 February 1931, was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, thanks to her body of her work including ‘Beloved’ (1987) and ‘Song of Solomon’.
‘Beloved’ – her best-seller about a runaway slave – earned her the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and was turned into a movie in 1998 by billionaire business woman Oprah Winfrey who produced and starred in the film.
Morrison was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the French Legion of Honor, according to Reuters.
She was also an editor and longtime professor at Princeton University. Her life was featured in a widely acclaimed documentary this year – “Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am”.
In South Africa, the Economic Freedom Fighters tweeted: “The EFF sends its heartfelt condolences on the passing of Toni Morrison, a truth teller, a groundbreaking and visionary novelist, an essayist and a teacher. May her soul rest in perfect and eternal peace.”
The United Nations said: “”Literature has the power to transform us in ways that politics never can. And few writers have demonstrated that power more magically than Toni Morrison.”
One South African reader, responding to an American tweet, said: “In South Africa, in high school, we only read Shakespeare. I experienced Morrison’s work at university from English Lit lectures. Since then, I started reading work by black authors and I thank Toni Morrison. An African American who made me see African authors too.”
We are profoundly sad to report that Toni Morrison has died at the age of eighty-eight.
“We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.”
February 18, 1931 – August 5, 2019 pic.twitter.com/DWnElCpMKc
— Alfred A. Knopf (@AAKnopf) August 6, 2019
In South Africa, in high school, we only read Shakespeare. I experienced Morrison's work at university from English Lit lectures. Since then, I started reading work by black authors and I thnk Toni Morrison. An African American who made me see African authors too
— 🇿🇦Noms🇿🇦 (@noms_minmats) August 6, 2019