  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, sula, song of solomon and beloved. 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 29 may 2012, she received the presidential medal of freedom. ==early life and career== toni morrison was born in lorain, ohio, to ramah (nÃ©e willis) and george wofford. she is the second of four children in a working-class family. as a child, morrison read fer
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