The only published short story by celebrated novelist Toni Morrison, “Recitatif” tells a tale of two orphans, one Black and one white, living parallel lives in Newburgh, New York (the home of Thornwillow Press!). Through a series of vignettes, Morrison explores the nuances of time, place, and race in their lives—without revealing the respective skin colors of either character. Morrison explained it as “an experiment in the removal of all racial codes from a narrative about two characters of different races for whom racial identity is crucial.” Like her novels, “Recitatif” is full of the thoughtful artistry and luminescent prose that made Toni Morrison a literary legend.
Toni Morrison was an author and professor whose worked are best known for their powerful depiction of history, memory, race, and identity. Her most acclaimed works include Beloved, Song of Solomon, and Sula. With her profound engagement with the African American experience and rich characterization, Morrison deftly illustrated the impact of history on individual lives and communities.
Morrison was born in Ohio in 1931, and went on to study at Howard University and Cornell University before pursuing a literary career. As an author, she received multiple honors, including the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Beloved and the Nobel Prize for Literature. She was the first African American woman to receive the award.
