top of page

Frank McCourt

'Tis

Author:      Frank McCourt

Published: 1999

Genre:        Memoir

Cover:        Paperback

Pages:        366

Review:

Frank McCourt, author of “Angela’s Ashes”, continues his memoir in, “‘Tis”.

Frank begins his story at age nineteen when he leaves his home and family in Ireland, and sails the seas returning to America where he was born.  On board ship, Frank befriends a priest who helps him during the chaos of his first days in NYC.  The priest takes him to a hotel where Frank hopes to find employment.

McCourt elaborates on his first job at the Biltmore hotel, on his enlistment in the U.S. Army, of his time in college at NYU and of his long awaited dream of teaching school.  McCourt addresses his marriage, the birth of his daughter and his subsequent divorce.

 

Frank McCourt authors his memoirs, detailing the events in his life, in a warm, engaging, interesting and personable manner.  Recommended.

   Angela's Ashes

Author:      Frank Mc Court

Published: 1996

Genre:        Memoir

Cover:        Paperback

Pages:        368

Review:

The incredibly emotional, stirring memoir, "Angela's Ashes", details the instability and turbulence of Frank Mc Court's childhood.  Frank and his siblings suffered throughout their young years bearing the scars from the dysfunctional home of a hard working, struggling mother and an irresponsible, drunken father.

 

Frank’s father Malachy, a perpetual drunk, loves his pint more than any single thing in life.  The welfare of his wife and children come second in line to his drink as Malachy spends any money in his possession at the pub, while fully aware that his family suffers in perpetual hunger, cold and squalor.

Frank’s mother, Angela, raises her children as best she can under the thumb of her husband.   Angela continually begs her husband not to spend the small earnings they have on drink but to no avail.  Due to her husband’s plague of alcohol, Angela is left penniless and loses her newborn daughter due to mal nutrition, and constant cold.

As Frank grows older, he does find some means of meager support and at fourteen, Frank starts to support his family, giving his earnings to his mother.

Although talented and hard working Frank never received help from his community; though an excellent student, he was refused support so was unable to continue schooling.

Frank scraped and saved and did eventually return to the USA, at nineteen years old.

The most captivating aspects of the memoir are McCourt’s beautiful writing, the sensitive love for his mother and siblings, and the undiminished yearning he holds close to his heart that his impossible father will change.

 

This work is an easy to read page turner, a brilliant autobiography, stunning, sensitive and simply unforgettable.  Highly recommended.

bottom of page