Description

A stunning, timeless story about race, friendship, what keeps us apart and what drives us apart, from the one and only Toni Morrison, with an introduction by Zadie Smith.

Twyla and Roberta met in a girls’ shelter as children. Inseparable then, they lose touch as they grow older, only to meet again later at a diner, a grocery store and then on opposing sides of a protest. The two women are seemingly at opposite ends of every issue, but the persistence of their bond is undeniable.

BRIEF ENCOUNTERS: classic novellas and captivating stories, to be read in a single sitting or savoured over days.

Publisher Review

Recitatif is the only short story written by the powerhouse novelist . . . Morrison’s sharp-eyed treatment of race, racism, and racial hierarchies remains relevant, digging deep into the marrow of society’s maladies. * Literary Hub * [A] stunning work . . . An illuminating introduction . . . The author’s experiment pays off brilliantly, forcing the reader to consider racial stereotypes while also providing an indelible story. * Publishers Weekly * The gravitas and unparalleled skill found in Morrison’s best-known work is on full display in this compact powerhouse. * Publishers Weekly * A uniquely interesting and enlightening reading experience. * Kirkus Reviews * This is the perfect text for a country still vigorously debating the relevance of race . . . The singular quality of this story makes it worthwhile, especially because the book contains a long, thoughtful introduction by Zadie Smith [which] provides a close reading and examines the way racial categories function in our allegedly post-racial culture. * Washington Post * This smart slippery tale… [is] highly relevant to our times… [Recitatif] serves as a challenge to contemporary novels that prefer to take refuge in racial orthodoxy than unsettle it, as Morrison so brilliantly does here * Daily Mail * A compelling exploration of race and relationships * i * So thought-provoking you’ll want everyone you know to read it * Daily Mail, *Summer Reads of 2022* * Genius * Guardian *