Angela's Ashes: A Memoir

Written at Age 66: Frank McCourt published Angela’s Ashes when he was 66 years old, making it his very first book. He had spent 30 years teaching high school English in New York City before finally sitting down to write his memoir. After retiring from teaching in 1988, he concentrated on his writing, and the book came out eight years later in 1996.

Finished in 13 Months: McCourt wrote Angela’s Ashes remarkably quickly once he started. He married his third wife, Ellen Frey, in 1994, and she encouraged him to capture his memories. He began writing shortly after their marriage and completed the entire manuscript in just 13 months.

Written in a Child’s Voice: McCourt wrote the entire memoir in present tense from his young perspective. No quotation marks appear anywhere in the book. This immediate, child’s-eye narration creates an unforgettable voice that critics compared to James Joyce.

Bestseller Phenomenon for Years: The book spent 117 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, more than two straight years of chart success. It went on to sell over five million copies worldwide, a run few debut memoirs ever achieve. That unexpected success transformed McCourt from an unknown retired teacher into a world-renowned author, suddenly deluged with fan mail and speaking requests.

Controversial in Limerick: The memoir sparked fierce controversy in McCourt’s hometown of Limerick, Ireland. Many locals accused him of exaggerating his family’s poverty and insulting the city. Local filmmaker Gerry Hannan compiled a list of 204 claimed inaccuracies and confronted McCourt on television in 1999.

Mother Denied Its Truth: McCourt’s own mother, Angela, denied the accuracy of his stories. Shortly before her death in 1981, she walked out of a stage performance where her sons were telling these stories, shouting from the audience that it was “all a pack of lies.”

Title’s Poignant Origin: The title refers to McCourt’s memory of his mother Angela staring into their unlit fireplace, the ashes symbolizing the extinguished warmth and hope of their desperately poor household in Limerick.

Nearly Died of Typhoid: At age 10, Frank nearly died from typhoid fever. During his 14 weeks confined to a hospital bed, he read voraciously, which helped nurture his love of language and storytelling that would eventually lead to his writing career.

Attempted It Before: McCourt actually tried to write Angela’s Ashes in 1969 but threw it out. He was imitating other writers like Joyce and O’Casey and couldn’t find his authentic voice. He finally discovered his unique style in retirement, inspired by watching his granddaughter’s honest, pragmatic way of seeing the world.

Spawned a Tourism Industry: Despite the controversy, Angela’s Ashes created a significant tourism industry in Limerick. Walking tours based on the book became popular attractions, and a Frank McCourt Museum opened in 2011 at his former school, though it closed in 2019.

Film Adaptation by Alan Parker: Director Alan Parker adapted the book into a film in 1999, with Emily Watson playing Angela and Robert Carlyle as the father. The soundtrack was composed by John Williams and featured songs by Billie Holiday and Sinéad O’Connor.