Frank McCourt on Angela's Ashes - The John Adams Institute

On September 3, 1997, The John Adams Institute welcomed award-winning Irish-American author Frank McCourt who spoke about his autobiographical memoir Angela’s Ashes, which won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize as well as the US Critics Circle Award and sold over a milllion hard-back copies. McCourt already had along career as a teacher of creative writing and English at Stuyvesant High School in New York City before making his debut as a writer at the age of 66. In Angela’s Ashes, McCourt gives a compelling account of his poverty-stricken childhood in Ireland. Born in New York in 1931, he was four when his emigrant family returned to the rigors of County Limerick. When his father dissipated by alcohol and unable to support the family, Frank and his mother and brothers lived much of the time in a state of near-destitution. His greatest wish was to get back to America and at the age of 19, he finally set sail for New York. Few books have made their readers laughed so hard at such misery and distress; for McCourt is a born storyteller, combining poetry with humor in concise style without once resorting to sentimentality or bitterness.

[@patcavasin5947]

Wish I could have met him...RIP, Frank

[@danielosullivan3110]

My uncle Mike O'Sullivan was also a teacher in NYC. He became friends with Frank. ☘️🙏 RIP

[@diannacooper777]

I loved that book, I read it when I was 17 and it’s been over 20 years still love it! Thanks frank for sharing your story and I know he’s passed but ah why not. RIP, frank mccourt.

[@debbyharrison9198]

I've read his 3 books many times..he was brilliant. My childhood was very similar..I wish he'd have written a fourth!!

[@dreastas2200]

I read both his book Angela's ashes honest ta god pissed meself laughing best book ever read thanks frank

[@danielosullivan3110]

Read 'Tis😂❤

[@margyeoman3564]

A man one would have liked to know! Loved his books. Understood about the poverty, the 6 kids, the mother raising them alone. The future where one could become someone, rather than the low self esteem of childhood.