In this edition of "The Writing Life," memoirist Frank McCourt is interviewed by writer and musician Terence Patrick Winch. They discuss McCourt's meteoric rise from abject poverty to worldwide success at the ripe age of 66, with the publication of the first of his trilogy, Angela's Ashes. McCourt wrote his first book after retiring from 30 years of teaching in New York's public schools. This episode highlights the initial response of his manuscript submission with one publisher, and what followed after it landed on the bestseller list with a different publisher. "Angela's Ashes freed me," says McCourt. He goes on to discuss what Winch calls the "beautifully photographed" movie and the ongoing effect of success. McCourt says, "I wrote a book about poverty and look at me." McCourt ends the program by reading a selection about how to receive Holy Communion. McCourt died less than five months after taping this show.
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