To hear Toni Morrison speak of narrative as "one of the principle ways in which we absorb knowledge," and language as "meditation," is truly a remarkable experience. It allows us to enter into a miraculously new understanding of what it means to engage with a novel, biography, book of creative nonfiction, or even a simple short story. When we note that she is making these declarations while accepting the 1993 Nobel Prize for Literature before members of the Swedish Academy, the thrill is doubled.
For those who have found Morrison's masterworks, such as "Beloved" and "Jazz," somewhat intimidating, hearing what she values most about literature offers invaluable insights into the experiences her own literary art provides. The gentle, autumn-breeze whisper of her voice stands in enthralling contrast to the intense laser heat and precision of her brilliant mind at work.
Aberjhani
Author of "Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance" and "Visions of a Skylark Dressed in Black"