Frank McCourt - Writing About Poverty

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2007/11/28/Frank_McCourt_Angela_and_the_Baby_Jesus

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt discusses his experiences in writing about poverty.

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Frank McCourt discusses Angela and the Baby Jesus.

Frank McCourt, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angela's Ashes, discusses his latest work, Angela and the Baby Jesus. Marking a departure from his familiar memoir form, this Christmas tale - published in editions for both adults and children - revolves around the early years of the eponymous Angela, and her attempts to keep an effigy of the baby Jesus warm. Hosted by Sandip Roy of KALW's UpFront Radio, this conversation is sure to offer insight into one of the master storytellers of our time - Commonwealth Club of California

Francis "Frank" McCourt is an Irish-American teacher and author.

He received the Pulitzer Prize (1997) and National Book Critics Circle Award (1996) for his memoir Angela's Ashes (1996), which details his childhood as a poor Irish Catholic in Limerick. He is also the author of 'Tis (1999), which continues the narrative of his life, picking up from the end of the previous book and focusing on life as a new immigrant in America. Teacher Man (2005), detailed the challenges of being a young, uncertain teacher who must impart knowledge to his students. His works are often part of the syllabus in high schools. In 2002 he was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Western Ontario.

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[sweptangel7]

He was a high school English teacher; imagine having had Frank McCourt as your English teacher! Now THAT would have been fantastic.

[U2gal4life]

After reading Angela's Ashes, i felt guilty when i sat down to eat something, had a hot shower, bought clothes, paid a bill, went out at the weekend. I live in 21st century Ireland, I don't think i could have survived early 20th century in Ireland.

[joshanator1]

@acalabretta

Embellished? "YOU" try growing up Irish asshole!

[joshanator1]

@bigyymajesticyy

Read it. I'm just about done with "Tis".

[bigyymajesticyy]

angelas ashes is a great book

[203207ab]

I didn't know the owner of the dodgers new poetry also. This man is a genius.

[sweptangel7]

@BMWLDRider You are fortunate to have had Frank McCourt as a teacher! I envy you!

[BMWLDRider]

@sweptangel7 He was my teacher at McKee 64-68.

He was thought of as a bit of a Bohemian...original Beatnik.

He introduced me to Jack London and Edgar A Poe.

He hung around with Stan Garber who was a speech therapist at the same school.

Even though he was thought of as being "cool" we always addressed him as Mr McCourt because we respected teachers and authority in general.

[GZSakuraz]

That guy in green looks like Nani lol

[sweptangel7]

How does one define fact? Fact is the opposite of fiction and is substantiated with proof. What's my point? My point is that someone noted that the story was embellished. My rebuttal was that it is a memoir, which doesn't necessitate facts. Memoirs are stories told by the author through the manner in which they either: 1) remember them or; 2) the way in which they want to tell them. By the way, fact is not a slippery concept - assumptions are a slippery concept. Consider mathematics and fact.

[clarinda47]

@sweptangel7 --How do you define fact? Perception is reality, and "fact" is a very slippery concept. Our memories shape who we are. We are the result of our perceptions of our experience. However, I don't know what your point is. What difference does it make, in terms of McCourt's writing?