[John Valentine]

"Toni Morrison" is a proper noun, and even if used to indicate the possessor of "genius" (a debatable proposition in my opnion, based on a reading of some of her writing), "Toni Morrison" remains a proper noun and can properly be the subject of a pronoun reference, even given the particular structure of this sentence.

Let's look at this one: "Bill's coat is red." Any problem? No even to grammar mavens, this is OK, because the referent of "red" is "coat", a noun. How about this: "Bill's coat was given to him by his grandmother." Fine, because Bill is still Bill, even when his name is used in the possessive, and the referent of "him" and "his", Bill, is clearly and unambiguously a thing, a person called Bill. Bill is not an adjective.

The grammar maven that found this sentence structure to be improper needs a lesson himself. He's wrong on the grammar issue, and he's wrong on the issue of common sense. He would be well advised to give up teaching and go into farming, assembly line work, or some other field where he will come into contact with the real world.

[ZinGirl]

cool....you and Right Whale...and several others on here...are way ahead of "those in charge".

[zencycler]

Good analysis, and I agree. Read my post #36 if you have time. I'd be interested in opinion.

[SAJ]

On the money, m'friend!