if you think 66 yrs is overnight. McCourt was born in New
York City and raised in Limerick, Ireland
during the 30s and 40s. At age 19, he returned to the U.S. to get the education
he had always wanted, but was unable to achieve in Ireland. McCourt put
himself through New York University's School of Education and went on to
teach Social Studies 27 years as a New York public high school teacher
until he retired in 1996. He published at the first time at age 66.
McCourt
burst onto the literary scene at that age with a memoir of
his childhood, Angelas Ashes. The book
was an immediate hit and maintained bestseller status on the New York Times
list for 117 weeks. In Angelas Ashes, McCourt brings to life the hardships
he experienced growing up in Limerick. Living in a vermin-infested house,
constantly flooded by the heavy rains, caused three of the seven children
to die of disease. McCourt, himself, almost died at the age of 10 from
typhoid fever. Despite the horrors, McCourt focuses on his love of family
and uses humor and vivid description to bring his past back to life.
For a personal interview where he discusses his struggle to write.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june99/mccourt_3-17.html
In addition to the esteemed Pulitzer Prize, Angelas Ashes won the ABBY
Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the National Book Critics
Circle Award. The paperback version of the novel was also on the
bestsellers list, as well as Tis: A Memoir, which picks
up McCourts life as
he arrived in America. Overall, Angelas Ashes has sold 4 million copies
in
17 countries and has been translated into 17 different languages.
McCourt has released several other works including a musical revue,
several
books and plays. His novels Tis,(a memoir,) Angela & the Baby Jesus
and
Teacher Man . Aside from writing, McCourt lectures at colleges and
universities across the U.S. and is a contributing editor for LIFE
magazine.
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