Angela's Ashes Summary

The account revolves around a boy, Frank, who shares the tale of his parents meeting in New York City. His mother, Angela, falls pregnant with him leading to their marriage. Angela finds it hard to feed her growing brood of boys as her husband, Malachy, squanders his earnings on liquor. The family is further strained by the death of Frank's beloved younger sister, Margaret, which plunges Angela into depression. In an attempt to escape their hardships, the family moves back to Ireland, where they encounter additional challenges: Angela miscarries, two of Frank's brothers die, and Malachy persists in his alcoholic habits.

Frank recounts his impoverished childhood, fraught with deprivation yet also filled with humor and adventure. They are forced to move to the second level of their home due to flooding, symbolically leaving 'Ireland' (the damp bottom floor) for 'Italy' (the warm upper one). Despite Malachy's destructive alcoholism, he wins Frank's affection with captivating stories about Irish heroes and their neighbors. As Frank grows, Angela births two more sons, Michael and Alphonsus. School becomes a focal point in Frank's life, especially after a bout of typhoid fever lands him in the hospital where he discovers Shakespeare. His love for stories and his talent for storytelling catch his teacher's attention.

As World War II breaks out, many fathers, including Malachy, leave for England, hoping to secure work and support their families. However, Malachy fails to send money back home. Frank, now working, dreams of saving enough to provide for his family. After eviction forces them to live with a relative, Angela enters a sexual relationship with their host, causing Frank great discomfort and exacerbating his guilt about his own sexual desires. Frank begins his own sexual journey with a young woman, Theresa, whose untimely death leaves him devastated. Having managed to save enough money, Frank finally leaves for New York, hopeful yet melancholic about leaving his homeland and family.