Toni Morrison, the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993, has died aged 88.
Toni’s family confirmed her demise on Tuesday, saying she had passed on “following a short illness.”
American novelist authored 11 novels, her first being The Bluest Eye, in 1970.
A statement from her family hailed her as an “extremely devoted mother, grandmother, and aunt.” It confirmed that she “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.”
Toni was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2012, the highest civilian award in the U.S.
Alongside 13 other individuals awarded the same medal, White House at the time said she had made “especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
“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,” the statement from the Morrison family added.
“We will share information in the near future about how we will celebrate Toni’s incredible life.”
