A Monk Swimming

The Story

Malachy McCourt's adventure begins with his arrival on American shores. 'A Monk Swimming' -- the title derived from young Malachy's mishearing of the Hail Mary's 'amongst women' -- is a memoir of the young McCourt set loose in New York City in the freewheeling 1960s in search of fame, fortune, and fun. Making his way by hook or by crook as an actor, raconteur, rowdy radio talk show host, and ocassional concrete inspector, Malachy eventually opened New York's first-ever tavern for eligible and often famous singles, attracting an A-list of young actors such as Peter O'Toole, Sean Connery, Grace Kelly, and Richard Harris. Malachy's silver tongue and irresistible charm soon earned him a regular spot on The Jack Parr Show. Fame followed, plus marriage, two children, divorce, then a descent into an alcoholic netherworld, a stint at international gold smuggling -- and, finally, a dramatic reunion with his and Frank's long-estranged father.A Monk Swimming proves that great storytelling runs in the family. Malachy McCourt has a peerless sense of humor and a way with the English language that will earn him comparison with the best writers of