On Morrison - by Namwali Serpell (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Toni Morrison, Nobel Laureate and one of our most beloved writers, has inspired generations of readers. But her artistic genius is often overshadowed by her monumental public persona, perhaps because, as Namwali Serpell puts it, "she is our only truly canonical black, female writer-and her work is highly complex." In On Morrison, Serpell brings her unique experience as both an award-winning writer and professor who teaches a course on Morrison to illuminate her masterful experiments with literary form. This is Morrison as you've never encountered her before, a journey through her oeuvre-her fiction and criticism, as well as her lesser-known dramatic works and poetry-with contextual guidance, archival discoveries, and original close readings. At once accessible and uncompromisingly rigorous, On Morrison is a primer not only on how to read one of the most significant American authors of all time, but also on how to read great works of literature in general. This dialogue on the page between two black women artist-readers is stylish, edifying, and thrilling in its scope and intelligence"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD NOMINEE - NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR SO FAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE NEW YORKER, VULTURE, ESQUIRE, THE GUARDIAN, BOOK RIOT, AND LIT HUB

An illuminating, electrifying exploration of the work of Toni Morrison by an award-winning novelist and Harvard professor--"a revelatory encounter with the Nobel laureate's oeuvre" (The New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice)

One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year

"A landmark appraisal of the great novelist's work . . . I have waited years for this book."--Laila Lalami, The Guardian
"Thrilling . . . ingenious."--Wesley Morris, The New York Times
"In this lavish yet clear-eyed study, Serpell shows how Morrison breathed new life into the novel. This is literary criticism at its finest."--Time
"Revelatory . . . will captivate everyone from newcomers to [Morrison's] most devoted fans."--Vulture
"Invigorating . . . an informed, accessible literary analysis."--The Wall Street Journal
"Resplendent . . . [a] work of swaggering genius."--Bookforum
"As gripping as it is intellectually brilliant . . . a classic."--Cathy Park Hong

"An enthralling tour of a legendary writer's oeuvre."--Publishers Weekly

Toni Morrison, Nobel Laureate and one of our most beloved writers, has inspired generations of readers. But her artistic genius is often overshadowed by her monumental public persona, perhaps because, as Namwali Serpell puts it, "she is our only truly canonical black female writer--and her work is highly complex." In On Morrison, Serpell brings her unique experience as both an award-winning writer and a professor who teaches a course on Morrison to illuminate her masterful experiments with literary form.

This is Morrison as you've never encountered her before, a journey through her oeuvre--her fiction and criticism, as well as her lesser-known dramatic works and poetry--with contextual guidance and original close readings. At once accessible and uncompromisingly rigorous, On Morrison is a primer not only on how to read one of the most significant American authors of all time but also on how to read great works of literature in general. This dialogue on the page between two black women artist-readers is stylish, edifying, and thrilling in its scope and intelligence.

Review Quotes

"On Morrison is a perfect pairing of author and subject, a work of literary criticism that expands our understanding of Toni Morrison's literary work and her cultural meaning. . . . An exhilarating read that also serves as a master class in how to blend scholarly analysis with deeply personal observations."--The Boston Globe

"Serpell's deep but clear investigation of Morrison's literary genius is one of the best primers to an author's oeuvre I've ever read."--Esquire

"An award-winning novelist and Harvard University professor delivers an illuminating exploration of the work of our beloved and brilliant Toni Morrison."--Essence

"One reason On Morrison was such a joy to read is that I felt guided by a writer who shares both my admiration and my fear of lionising. . . . With On Morrison, Serpell has managed to deliver a book that works on many levels: as a study of craft, as a critical appraisal, and as a tribute to an artist who was difficult in all the right ways . . . a landmark appraisal."--Laila Lalami, The Guardian

"[A] lavish yet clear-eyed study . . . literary criticism at its finest."--Time

"Revelatory . . . will captivate everyone from newcomers to [Morrison's] most devoted fans."--Vulture

"Invigorating . . . an informed, accessible literary analysis."--The Wall Street Journal

"Deeply pleasurable, rigorous, surprising, and often funny . . . How fortunate for all of us to have Serpell as [Morrison's] reader."--New York

"Resplendent . . . fresh and smart . . . [a] work of swaggering genius."--Bookforum

"Decades in the making, On Morrison is [Serpell's] breathtakingly comprehensive analysis of the Nobel laureate's oeuvre."--Book Page

"[A] book that will serve lovers of Morrison for years to come."--BookRiot

"On Morrison brings the reader on new journeys through [Morrison's] famous fiction and her lesser-known plays and poetry. Serpell will make you want to read literature with fresh eyes and rediscover a love for reading."--Electric Literature

"A work of bracing, rigorous, and thrilling critical appraisal not just of Toni Morrison's evolution as a writer of fiction but of the richness and complexity of the black literary tradition . . . With On Morrison, Serpell marshals both her fictive imagination and her critical acumen to bring forth knotted, uncompromising, and often surprising aspects of Morrison's work."--Defector

"This is a book that rises to the challenge of extending and expanding a legacy by giving the person at the heart of that legacy time, rigor, and care."--Hanif Abdurraqib, New York Times bestselling author of There's Always This Year

"In On Morrison, Serpell applies her prodigious intellect, vast literary archive, and her own calling as a novelist to magnificent effect in this breathtaking, provocative, and refreshing engagement with Morrison as a thinker as well as an artist. Filled with unique analyses, deep dives, and an intellectual playfulness that Morrison herself so valued, this book will stand as one of the most important twenty-first-century works on the great American writer."--Imani Perry, author of South to America

"Only Namwali Serpell could write a critical guide on Toni Morrison's novels that is as gripping as it is intellectually brilliant. While On Morrison provides a lucid and revelatory close read of all of her work, it's also a love letter to reading itself; to the virtues of difficulty; to Black literary inheritance; and to Morrison's uncompromising vision in always bringing the center to the margins. On Morrison is a classic."--Cathy Park Hong, author of Minor Feelings

"Dazzling . . . Serpell uses intellectual rigor alongside inventive flair to tackle Toni Morrison's writing in ways that feel both fresh and deeply expanding. This book is an illuminating guide to understanding how best to read, understand, and admire one of American literature's greatest voices."--Isaac Fitzgerald, TODAY

"Graceful, exhilarating . . . Serpell deserves consideration for a major prize. Mostly she deserves our gratitude and admiration: On Morrison gives us, in precise yet supple prose, a close reading in action and an exemplar of literary criticism. . . . This book will spur you to pour over the master's achievements."--On the Seawall

"On Morrison is not simply a literary miracle; it is a cultural feat, a damn near perfect concoction made maybe once in a generation. It is what happens when a mind as curious as it is expansive explores the work of the greatest maker of novels in American history."--Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy

"A thrilling, candid, and immersive study of one extraordinary mind by another . . . a necessary book and a brilliant achievement."--Preti Taneja, author of We That Are Young

"A celebration of genius that's not just approachable, but truly welcoming."--Maris Kreizman, Literary Hub

"An impressive, nuanced work of scholarship."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"An insightful and stimulating exploration of the work of Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison. . . . Serpell puts Morrison's genius on full display. This will enthrall Morrison fans and cultivate new ones."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Illuminating and fascinating . . . [On Morrison] offers insight and fresh perspectives and will appeal to readers new to and deeply familiar with Morrison's vital body of work."--Booklist, starred review

"Serpell's blend of scholarly analysis and deep affection for Morrison's work offers a welcoming guide for newcomers and an enriching resource for longtime Morrison fans alike. Every serious reader should have this book on their shelves."--Book Riot

"A high-flying, fantastically erudite rendition of how Morrison wanted to be read, blending the scholarly and the personal response to her work with seamless flair and conviction."--Diana Evans, author of A House for Alice

About the Author

Namwali Serpell was born in Lusaka and lives in New York. Her debut novel, The Old Drift, won an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Science Fiction, and the Los Angeles Times's Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction. Her second novel, The Furrows, was a finalist for a National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and was selected as one of The New York Times Ten Best Books of the Year. Her book of essays, Stranger Faces, was a finalist for a National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism. She is a recipient of the Windham-Campbell Prize for Fiction, the Caine Prize for African Writing, and a Rona Jaffe Foundation Award. She is a professor of English at Harvard University.