The Naked Civil Servant

A comical and poignant memoir of a gay man living life as he pleased in the 1930s In 1931, gay liberation was not a movement—it was simply unthinkable. But in that year, Quentin Crisp made the courageous decision to "come out" as a homosexual. This exhibitionist with the henna-dyed hair was harrassed, ridiculed and beaten. Nevertheless, he claimed his right to be himself—whatever the consequences. The Naked Civil Servant is both a comic masterpiece and a unique testament to the resilience of the human spirit. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

"As soon as I stepped out of my mother's womb...I realized that I had made a mistake", Quentin Crisp declares, giving a small hint of the witty and wry approach he takes toward the life he describes with uninhibited exuberance in this classic autobiography, which is both a comic masterpiece and a unique testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Crisp not only came out as a gay man in 1931, when the slightest sign of homosexuality shocked public sensibilities, but he did so with grand and provocative flamboyance, determined to spread the message that homosexuality did not exclude him or anyone else from the human race. His hilarious descriptions of encounters with parents, friends, employers, soldiers and sailors, and the law reveal the strength and humor of an honest man, determined to face the world with the uncensored, unapologetic truth about himself.

In this second volume of his autobiography, Quentin Crisp describes the wider horizons of his years as a celebrity at home and abroad, and explains his personal philosophy of inaction, as well as his love affair with North America.

This remarkable double biography celebrates the interlocking lives of two of the greatest eccentrics of the 20th century: the brilliant and bizarre Quentin Crisp and the outlandish Philip O'Connor, whose careers first became entwined in Fitzrovia during the Second World War. This is first authoritative account of the personalities behind their artful facades, told by novelist Andrew Barrow, whose life was profoundly affected by both men. 'It is not often that one comes across a truly original book, but here is one' Independent 'O'Connor was a histronic Withnail to Crisp's Ziggy Stardust...In Barrow's deft and cleverly constructed text, the two dance in and out of each other's lives and his own imagination' Guardian 'Beautifully tuned writing - a work of love' Daily Telegraph 'An affectionate and scrupulous portrait of the kind of lives which will never be seen again' Daily Mail

English writer and raconteur Quentin Crisp (1908-1999) became a celebrity and gay icon at the age of 60 with the publication and televising of his 1968 memoir, The Naked Civil Servant. Unapologetically unconventional, he filled books and articles with his witticisms and opinions on popular culture, and packed theaters worldwide with his one-man show An Evening with Quentin Crisp. This biography chronicles Crisp's life, including his birth in pre-World War I England; his life as a gay youth on the streets of London; his early attempts at writing and job-seeking; his entry into the world of modeling; and his sudden success late in life. With this definitive chronicle, Quentin Crisp and his unique worldview are once again on display.

The Last Word is the third and final installment of Quentin Crisp's autobiography. The Last Word was written by Crisp with the help of his best friend, Phillip Ward, who tape-recorded and later transcribed Quentin's words between 1997-1999. The Last Word was published on November 21, 2017, the eighteen-year anniversary of Crisp's passing.

This delightful gem is based on Crisp's diary in "The New York Native". His affecting words cover topics from politics to prejudice, from the human spirit to the individual obstacles he faces every day in his solitary life.