Toni Morrison (born
Chloe Ardelia Wofford; February 18, 1931) is an American novelist, editor, and professor. Her novels are known for their
epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters. Among her best known novels are
The Bluest Eye (1970),
Sula (1973),
Song of Solomon (1977), and
Beloved (1987). She was also commissioned to write the libretto for a new opera,
Margaret Garner, first performed in 2005. She won the
Pulitzer Prize and the
American Book Award in 1988 for
Beloved and the
Nobel Prize in 1993. On May 29, 2012, she received the
Presidential Medal of Freedom. Morrison serves as Professor Emeritus at
Princeton University.