This encyclopedia covers Morrison's works, characters, locations, themes (e.g.,
Children), and general topics (e.g.,
Oprah's Book Club). The alphabetically arranged entries are the work of 52 contributors. Also included is a 14-page selected bibliography citing Morrison's novels, essays, stories, and interviews, as well as criticism on Morrison's works selected from books and articles. Typically, articles on themes, general topics, and works span several pages, while entries on characters and locations range from one sentence to one paragraph. A list of references concludes many, but not all, entries.
Entries on Morrison's works usually provide a plot summary followed by a review of major themes within the work. For example, the entry for The Bluest Eye includes a discussion of racism and black female identity. Theme coverage is broad and should be useful for students. For example, the six-page article titled Migration discusses migration in the novels The Bluest Eye, Sula, Song of Solomon, Tar Baby, beloved, jazz, and paradise and ends with a list of further readings. Other examples of theme headings include Hunger, masculinity, Sex/Sexuality, and trickster. Although a general index is included, a separate theme index might further assist readers.
The Toni Morrison Encyclopedia makes a nice supplement to resources such as Gale's Contemporary Authors and Masterplots II: African American Literature (Salem, 1994) as well as circulating items such as Critical Essays on Toni Morrison (G. K. Hall, 1988). Intended for the scholar and the general reader, some articles may prove challenging for high-schoolers. Suitable for academic and public libraries. RBB
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?[A] worthwhile contribution to the subject....Recommended for high school and college collections, as well as scholars interested in further study and research of the Nobel Prize-winning writer.?-MultiCultural Review
?[P]rovides a handy overview of her life as well as her literary acheivements....Although this work is geared toward university students, the lucid writing makes it appropriate for high school-level readers as well....A useful addition to most academic as well as larger public libraries.?-Library Journal
?[T]his alphabetically arranged volume is helpful, easy to use, and well cross-referenced. Recommended. Academic collections.?-Choice
?[T]his book would be an invaluable reference tool for a student working on an essay or dissertation about Morrison's work....[T]his volume would not look out of place in a range of collections, school libraries for the older reader, public and academic libraries.?-Reference Reviews
?Ihe Toni Morisson Encyclopedia has been assembled to help readers appreciate Morrison's achievements and negotiate her multilayered texts....Comprehensive collections will certainly want to acquire Ihe Toni Morisson Encyclopedia.?-Reference & User Services Quarterly
?Intended for the scholar and the general reader....Suitable for academic and public libraries.?-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin
?Older teen and adult Morrison fans will find it indispensable for exploring the concepts and sorting out the complexities of her work.?-VOYA
"ÝA¨ worthwhile contribution to the subject....Recommended for high school and college collections, as well as scholars interested in further study and research of the Nobel Prize-winning writer."-MultiCultural Review
"ÝP¨rovides a handy overview of her life as well as her literary acheivements....Although this work is geared toward university students, the lucid writing makes it appropriate for high school-level readers as well....A useful addition to most academic as well as larger public libraries."-Library Journal
"ÝT¨his alphabetically arranged volume is helpful, easy to use, and well cross-referenced. Recommended. Academic collections."-Choice
"ÝT¨his book would be an invaluable reference tool for a student working on an essay or dissertation about Morrison's work....ÝT¨his volume would not look out of place in a range of collections, school libraries for the older reader, public and academic libraries."-Reference Reviews
"[A] worthwhile contribution to the subject....Recommended for high school and college collections, as well as scholars interested in further study and research of the Nobel Prize-winning writer."-MultiCultural Review
"[T]his alphabetically arranged volume is helpful, easy to use, and well cross-referenced. Recommended. Academic collections."-Choice
"[T]his book would be an invaluable reference tool for a student working on an essay or dissertation about Morrison's work....[T]his volume would not look out of place in a range of collections, school libraries for the older reader, public and academic libraries."-Reference Reviews
"Ihe Toni Morisson Encyclopedia has been assembled to help readers appreciate Morrison's achievements and negotiate her multilayered texts....Comprehensive collections will certainly want to acquire Ihe Toni Morisson Encyclopedia."-Reference & User Services Quarterly
"Intended for the scholar and the general reader....Suitable for academic and public libraries."-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin
"Older teen and adult Morrison fans will find it indispensable for exploring the concepts and sorting out the complexities of her work."-VOYA
"[P]rovides a handy overview of her life as well as her literary acheivements....Although this work is geared toward university students, the lucid writing makes it appropriate for high school-level readers as well....A useful addition to most academic as well as larger public libraries."-Library Journal
About the Author
ELIZABETH ANN BEAULIEU is Director of the Women's Studies Program at Appalachian State University, where she also teaches in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. She is the author of Black Women Writers and the American Neo-Slave Narrative: Femininity Unfettered (Greenwood, 1999).
