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Frank McCourt and Angela's Ashes

Frank McCourt's "memoir" Angela's Ashes was one of the first in a new genre of autobiographical writing - Misery Literature or Mis Lit for short. These descriptions of a childhood spent with vile parents and/or vicious priests, brothers or nuns is usually grossly exageratted or completely false. Angela's Ashes is a mixture of both e.g. the story of Frank's school friend who tells him about his great sin in seeing the naked body of his sister. The guy actually existed but had no sister. The book is replete with such stories, usually involving sex and targetting the "hypocrisy" of the Catholic Church.

 

Frank McCourt and "America" Magazine, June 2005

Frank McCourt and "America" Magazine - Appendix

Frank McCourt and Crime in Ireland Today Ireland, May 2008

The Lies of Frank McCourt - Discussion on Irish Politics Website, April 2010

Limerick Today - After Frank McCourt, Irish Times Feb 2010