“Women did what strawberry plants did before they shot out their thin vines: the quality of the green changed. Then the vine threads came, then the buds. By the time the white petals died and the mint-colored berry poked out, the leaf shine was gilded tight and waxy.”

American novelist and Nobel laureate in literature, Toni Morrison is best known for her lyrical, psychologically rich explorations of Black identity, history, and trauma. Her works, including *Beloved* and *Song of Solomon*, redefine American literature with their depth and moral complexity.