16 Facts About Christy Brown

Christy Brown was an Irish writer and painter who had cerebral palsy and was able to write or type only with the toes of one foot.

Christy Brown's most recognized work is his autobiography, titled Down All The Days.

Christy Brown was born into a working-class Irish family at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin in June 1932.

Christy Brown's parents were Bridget Fagan and Patrick Brown.

Christy Brown had demonstrated extremely impressive physical dexterity since, soon after discovering several household books, Christy had learned to both write and draw himself, with the only limb over which he had unequivocal control: his left leg.

Collis discovered that Christy Brown was a natural novelist and, later, Collis helped use his own connections to publish My Left Foot, by then a long-gestating autobiographical account of Christy Brown's struggle with everyday life amidst the vibrant culture of Dublin.

When My Left Foot became a literary sensation, one of the many people who wrote letters to Christy Brown was married American woman Beth Moore.

Christy Brown journeyed to Connecticut once more to finish his magnum opus, which he had been developing for years.

Christy Brown finally did so in 1967 with help from Moore, who introduced and administered a strict working regimen, mostly by denying him alcohol until a day's work was completed.

Christy Brown then terminated his affair with Moore and married Carr at the Register Office, Dublin, in 1972.

Christy Brown continued to paint, write novels, poetry and plays.

Christy Brown became mainly a recluse in his last years, which is thought to be a direct result of Carr's influence and perhaps abusive nature.

Christy Brown died at the age of 49 after choking during a lamb chop dinner.

Christy Brown's body was found to have significant bruising, which led many to believe that Carr had physically abused him.

Christy Brown's magnum opus, Down All the Days was an ambitious project drawn largely from a playful expansion of My Left Foot; it became an international best-seller, translated into 14 languages.

Christy Brown published three poetry collections: Come Softly to My Wake, Background Music and Of Snails and Skylarks.