41 pages • 1 hour read
Frank McCourtAngela's Ashes
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1996A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Angela’s Ashes is Frank McCourt's 1996 memoir recounting his challenging upbringing in the slums of Limerick, Ireland, detailing his family's struggles with poverty, his father's alcoholism, the deaths of siblings, and the impact of a strict Catholic culture on his development. Frank's journey from a young boy discovering a passion for literature to a 19-year-old emigrating to America is framed by rich anecdotes and interactions with the people of Limerick. The book includes vulgarity and scenes of a graphic sexual nature.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt receives high praise for its poignant and evocative storytelling. Readers commend its vivid depiction of poverty in Ireland and McCourt's lyrical prose. Some critics note the repetitive nature of hardships described. Overall, the memoir is celebrated for its emotional depth and authenticity, though its relentless bleakness can be overwhelming.
Who Should Read Angela's Ashes?
A reader who appreciates poignant memoirs, vivid storytelling, and themes of poverty and resilience will enjoy Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt. Fans of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith will find McCourt's narrative equally compelling and heart-wrenching.