Toni Morrison (1931–2019) was an award–winning American novelist. She received the Pulitzer Prize for her critically acclaimed novel, Beloved; inspired by the true story of a runaway slave, the book was adapted for film in 1998. Morrison was also the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993 and was also honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. Her other most popular books include The Bluest Eye, Sula, and Song of Solomon. One of America's most gifted storytellers, Tony Morrison's writing is characterized by epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters, and her books continue to captivate readers to this day.