Novel on Ex-Slave, Account of Morgans Win Book Awards

The historical novel, “Middle Passage,” which chronicles the journey of a freed African slave returning to his homeland, won the 1990 National Book Award competition for fiction Tuesday night.

Charles Johnson, an English professor at the University of Washington, wrote the book, which takes place in the 1830s and tells the story of a terrifying voyage taken by the slave en route to his native Africa on a clipper ship. It was published by Atheneum.

“The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance” by Ron Chernow won in the nonfiction category. It was published by Atlantic Monthly Press.

The winners were announced at the 40th anniversary awards dinner at the Plaza Hotel.