The story of is the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir of Frank McCourt , who recounts his "miserable Irish Catholic childhood" with a mix of raw heartbreak and unexpected humor . Born in Brooklyn during the Great Depression, Frank and his family move back to the slums of Limerick, Ireland , when he is four years old—a decision he describes as "terrible". Life in the Slums

The McCourt family lives in extreme poverty, dwelling in a damp, flea-infested room where the bottom floor often floods, forcing them to move to the upper floor they jokingly call "Italy".