General Chat

McCourt gravely ill with meningitis
Last Updated: Thursday, 16 July 2009, 22:14 GMT

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt has contracted meningitis and is unlikely to survive, his brother has said.
The Irish-American writer, best known for the memoir Angela's Ashes, was recently treated for melanoma, a form of skin cancer, and was said to have responding quite well to chemotherapy.
But the latest illness has resulted in Mr McCourt, 78, being admitted to a New York hospice where "his faculties are shutting down", his brother said.
Malachy McCourt, also an author, added: "He is not expected to live".
In May it was confirmed that Mr McCourt was suffering form skin cancer. But reports that he was gravely ill were at the time dismissed as "exaggerated".
Malachy McCourt said his brother was recuperating at home and that the cancer was in remission following treatment.
He added that until being struck down with meningitis two weeks ago, his brother was doing well.
"He was out and about, being active, doing talks and so forth," he added.
The Brooklyn-born writer grew up in Limerick after his family returned to Ireland in 1934. He would later write about his childhood in the acclaimed book Angela's Ashes, for which he received the Pulitzer Prize in 1997.
He followed up the award-winning memoir with 'Tis, which charted his return to America at the age of 19.

This would be a sad end to a man who endured so much.

Lizx

I have read Angela's Ashes and Tis.
McCourt brought the books to life.
Being from Irish heritage on both sides of the family, I found his perspective on the daily lives of the Irish poor fascinating.

Deb

I too read his books and saw the film, it is difficult to believe that such conditions endured where they had to live upstairs because downstairs was flooded, and that they had to dismantle the walls to use as fuel for the fire, just to keep out the cold and damp......

How well he wrote his books, he painted such a picture, especially of the street where he lived and the one toilet at the end and the horse that was stabled there too........and this was well depicted in the film......

That film, and My Left Foot, with Daniel Day Lewis as Christy, the lad with cerebral palsy.........who couldn't speak, but wrote his book because someone befriended him and had to patience to write it all down for him.......and followed by Down All The Days, about his childhood too.......I would bet that there would be few who could read any of these books without crying.....

A poor start to life, both of these Irish lads, but so glad that they lived happier times as a result of their hard work........

sally

trust me to rattle on without saying how sad I am to hear of Frank McCourt's illness, I am only glad he found success in his life and gives pleasure to many through his books.....

Really sad to hear this, Such a BRILLIANT story-teller, and all-round human being. And as a meningitis survivor myself (had it aged 19) it makes it even sadder to me.

:o(

"May the road rise to meet you...."

How sad, I loved reading Angelas ashes and Tis. Teacher Man I didn't like so much. I loved his way of telling a hard life story with great humour.

No further news at the moment, I hope if this really is the end, he has a gentle, painfree passing and will meet with those he has loved and lost.

Lizx

Fancy that and what a shame :-(

I have read all his books and he has given me much pleasure by the reading of them. He had a great way of writing.....making one laugh while also making one cry. Sad :-(

It must be awful for his family watching him die. I hope he has a peaceful passing soon, no one should have to go through this slow death.

Lizx

I also enjoyed Franks books.

My thoughts are with his family at this sad time

Such sad news. I have enjoyed his books tremendously.
My thoughts are with him and his family - may they be given strength to cope at this difficult time.

Steph

I can't find anything more at the moment, I do hope this marvellous writer can either recover or have a peaceful passing soon, to die a long drawn out death is so hard for his family to see and for him to bear.

Lizx

I have just read the news, broken by his brother Malachy, that Frank McCourt died in a Manhattan hospice on Sunday, aged 78.

Rest in Peace, Frank, you wrote books that interested so many people, and had a hard start to life, may you now be reunited with those loved ones gone before.

Lizx

Thats a shame Liz.

RIP Frank McCourt and if yer can hear me up there...Thanks for the laughs and thanks for taking time to share your life, love and laughter with us.

And if yer can't.....I still liked yer books anyway.

Susan
x

Hi Susan,

I am sure if he has 'arrived' he will know you liked the books lol

R.I.P.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/5867222/Frank-McCourt-author-of-Angelas-Ashes-dies-at-78.html

Frank McCourt, the author of Angela's Ashes, a prize-winning "epic of woe" about his childhood in Ireland, died in New York yesterday at the age of 78.
He had been gravely ill with meningitis and recently was treated for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. He died in a Manhattan hospice, his brother Malachy McCourt said.

Thanks for the link Joy, I forgot to add that when I added the Update.

Lizx

I too was surprised not to see it on the news. I am sure many people would be interested, more than some of the rubbish they talk about on the news sometimes.

Lizx