Nobel-Prize Winning Author Toni Morrison is Death
The
Morrison family confirmed "with profound sadness" that Morrison had
died "following a short illness".
The
author of 11 novels, she won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993, having
published her first novel, The Bluest Eye, in 1970.
Her
book Beloved told the story of a female African-American slave and was made
into a film starring Oprah Winfrey in 1998.
Morrison once said:
"We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be
the measure of our lives."
The
Morrison family statement said the "extremely devoted mother, grandmother,
and aunt" had "passed away peacefully last night [5 August]
surrounded by family and friends".
"The
consummate writer who treasured the written word, whether her own, her students
or others, she read voraciously and was most at home when writing," it
continued.
"Although
her passing represents a tremendous loss, we are grateful she had a long, well
lived life."
The family added:
"While we would like to thank everyone who knew and loved her, personally
or through her work, for their support at this difficult time, we ask for
privacy as we mourn this loss to our family.
"We
will share information in the near future about how we will celebrate Toni's
incredible life."
Her
long-time editor Robert Gottlieb from Knopf publishers, said: "She was a
great woman and a great writer, and I don't know which I will miss more."
And
Sonny Mehta, the chairman of Knopf, said: " I can think of few writers in
American letters who wrote with more humanity or with more love for language
than Toni.
"Her
narratives and mesmerising prose have made an indelible mark on our culture.
Her novels command and demand our attention.
"They
are canonical works, and more importantly, they are books that remain beloved
by readers."
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