Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt, #1)
by Frank McCourt
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt holds a highly rated rating of 4.07 out of 5, based on 392.1K reader ratings. First published in 1996. The book spans 452 pages.
About Angela's Ashes
Imbued on every page with Frank McCourt's astounding humor and compassion. This is a glorious book that bears all the marks of a classic."When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I managed to survive at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood." So begins the Pulitzer Prize winning memoir of Frank McCourt, born in Depression-era Brooklyn to recent Irish immigrants and raised in the slums of Limerick, Ireland. Frank's mother, Angela, has no money to feed the children since Frank's father, Malachy, rarely works, and when he does he drinks his wages. Yet Malachy-- exasperating, irresponsible and beguiling-- does nurture in Frank an appetite for the one thing he can provide: a story. Frank lives for his father's tales of Cuchulain, who saved Ireland, and of the Angel on the Seventh Step, who brings his mother babies. Perhaps it is story that accounts for Frank's survival. Wearing rags for diapers, begging a pig's head for Christmas dinner and gathering coal from the roadside to light a fire, Frank endures poverty, near-starvation and the casual cruelty of relatives and neighbors--yet lives to tell his tale with eloquence, exuberance and remarkable forgiveness. Angela's Ashes, imbued on every page with Frank McCourt's astounding humor and compassion, is a glorious book that bears all the marks of a classic.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Frank McCourt |
| Published | 1996 |
| Pages | 452 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Biography & Memoir, Classics, History |
| Average Rating | 4.07 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 392,103 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Angela's Ashes?
Angela's Ashes is categorized as Non-Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Biography & Memoir, Classics. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.
Is Angela's Ashes worth reading?
Based on 392.1K reader ratings, Angela's Ashes has an average score of 4.07 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated." Its large number of reviews suggests broad reader appeal.
How many pages is Angela's Ashes?
Angela's Ashes has 452 pages.
Who wrote Angela's Ashes?
Angela's Ashes was written by Frank McCourt. It was first published in 1996.
What is the ISBN for Angela's Ashes?
The ISBN-13 for Angela's Ashes is 9780007205230.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
