NATIONAL BESTSELLER - An illuminating, electrifying exploration of the work of Toni Morrison by an award-winning novelist and Harvard professor--'a revelatory encounter with the Nobel laureate's oeuvre' (The New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice) 'A landmark appraisal of the great novelist's work . . . I have waited years for this book.'--Laila Lalami, The Guardian 'Thrilling . . . ingenious.'--Wesley Morris, The New York Times 'In this lavish yet clear-eyed study, Serpell shows how Morrison breathed new life into the novel. This is literary criticism at its finest.'--Time 'Revelatory . . . will captivate everyone from newcomers to Morrison's] most devoted fans.'--Vulture 'Invigorating . . . an informed, accessible literary analysis.'--The Wall Street Journal 'Resplendent . . . fresh and smart . . . a] work of swaggering genius.'--Bookforum 'As gripping as it is intellectually brilliant . . . a classic.'--Cathy Park Hong ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New