French Literature Reviews - 2026
T. Morrison, The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations
Writers: Biography, Letters and Memoirs
The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations
Toni Morrison
Christine Laferrière
Publication date 03/10/2019
Christian Bourgois
EAN 9782267031751
425 pages
The Source of Self-Regard brings together roughly forty texts written by Toni Morrison over the past few decades, clearly showcasing her generous intellect. She engages, debates, and analyzes themes as diverse as the role of the artist in society, the function of imagination in literature, the presence of African Americans in American culture, and the power of language.
These essays reflect the same power found in her novels: her examination of racial and social dynamics, her deep empathy, and her political pragmatism.
*
An article about this book can be read on en-attendant-nadeau.fr:
"Posthumous Toni Morrison", by Claude Grimal (published online October 22, 2019)
"With Beloved in 1987, Toni Morrison, who passed away this summer, transitioned in the United States from a serious and talented writer to a 'national treasure' (in the words of Barack Obama). From that moment on, she enjoyed unconditional admiration for both her literary output and her public role and statements—whether spoken or written—concerning politics, literature, and life. The Source of Self-Regard, the final collection of texts published during her lifetime, helps deepen our understanding of ideas she expressed in previous works (Playing in the Dark, The Origin of Others) or through various public appearances."
And on Diakritik.com:
This collection gathers approximately forty pieces composed over several decades by the American author, providing insight into her critical thought and public interventions. The texts address the function of the imagination in literature, the responsibilities of the artist within society, and the historical presence of African Americans in cultural life. Readers interested in contemporary American literature, cultural studies, and the intersection of politics and aesthetics may find this collection relevant.
"The Enslaved Body and the Black Body", by C. Chaulet Achour.