Born 1930 in New York City, Frank McCourt spent most of his childhood in the slums of Limerick, Ireland until he returned to the United States at the age of 19. Having had no steady job for years McCourt finally became teacher and worked at New York City public schools before retiring in 1995. Frank McCourt had always wanted to be a novelist but the dream of creating his own memoirs was realized late, during his retirement, when …showed first 75 words of 3379 total…

…showed last 75 words of 3379 total…he yearned for peace in his declining years. He returned to Belfast, which erupted all around him. He said, A pox on all their houses, and chatted with the ladies of Andersontown. They tempted him with delicacies but he waved them away and drank his tea. He no longer smoked or touched alcohol, so what was the use ? It was time to go and he died in the Royal Victoria Hospital." (McCourt: Angela's Ashes, p. 11).