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.
Nigel David Kelly is a writer and award-winning published author, triple graduate and Mensan. In his youth he was a bodybuilder with the National Amateur Bodybuilder’s Association. At forty-nine he competed in his first Powerlifting meet, with the Northern Ireland Powerlifting Federation and at fifty became National Champion. He has been a writer for thirty years. During those decades he has written articles on a wide range of subjects, for newspapers, magazines, Mensa. In the internet age he has written for various websites, blogs, and contributes to forums. As a published author, he has written biography, autobiography, novels, and exercise books. He has been published by McFarland of the USA, one of the world’s leading academic publishing houses. He was one of the first authors to be published by Olebbooks publishing house.
I am a big fan of Quentin Crisp, and so I enjoyed reading another book about him. It was informative enough and reminded me of Crisp's greatness, but it didn't add a lot to my existing knowledge about this lovely man, and did not have much new to say. All in all, a good book for beginning 'Crispers' who wish to learn more about Crisp's life and times.