personal stories about the places of Midwestern literature

When Toni Morrison died in August 2019, I was wrapping up the semester in a summer session literature course. We had recently read Morrison’s novel Sula, and I wasn’t ready to talk about her death in class—probably because, as I said then, I had long referred to her as “our greatest living writer.” 

Toni Morrison is no longer our greatest living writer, but there’s a strong case for her as our greatest Midwestern author.

Ever since beginning Literary Landscapes, I’ve wanted to do a volume focused entirely on Morrison’s work, and I’m delighted that it has finally come to pass. These five essays approach Morrison from very different angles, covering a swath of her work from early to late, both fiction and nonfiction. They explore her hometown, her appearances, and the locations that flowered in her imagination. We are lucky to have had Toni Morrison, and now for her work and her places to inspire these contributors in their own reflections.

So, please enjoy. And if you are inspired to write your own Literary Landscapes essay, please send me a pitch! Check out this blog post for more information and a list of potential sites.

Andy Oler, Departments Editor
The New Territory