Overview Research: Quentin Crisp

-Born Denis Charles Pratt 25 December 1908, died 21 November 1999 whilst on tour.

-Renowned in later life as a self styled writer and raconteur.

-Known for his effeminate traits which had resulted in much bullying at school.

-Changed his name to Quentin in his mid twenties after leaving home to study journalism at King's College London.

-Failed to graduate and instead pursued artistic endeavours at Regent Street Polytechnic.

-After changing his name he fully in braced this aspect of his appearance/ personally.

-In a time, 1930s and 40s, when it was not only not accepted to be but actively shunned homosexual within society he adapted his appearance to one that openly stated his sexual preferences.

-This included dying his long hair lavender in colour, polishing his nails and dressing in an androgynous style.

-This provoked open discrimination and even violent attacks towards him on the street, much of which was widely condoned by other members of the public.

-Around this time he began frequenting cafes in Soho such as the Black Cat.

-Briefly worked as a sex worker for sixth months around this time as well as a life drawing model.

-Tried to join the army during the onset of war but was denied on grounds of suffering sexual perversion.

-During the Blitz period in London developed an affinity towards Americans due to the open-mindedness and kindness he experienced towards him by American Soldiers.

-Subsequently he moved to the USA later in his life during the 1980s.

-In the 1970s he gained much fame after publishing the book: The Naked Civil Servant and subsequently began touring as a one man show containing monologues from his memoirs as well as questions and answers from the audience.

-At this time he famously gave out his phone number to members of the public and saw it as his duty to converse in full with anyone who happened to call.

-Despite becoming a gay icon due to publicly embracing his sexuality in a time when it was when it was unacceptable by the general public and at times even dangerous to do so he provoked much controversy in his later life due to what many consider to be a homophobic stance.

-This included openly denouncing the gay liberation movements of the 1970s and 1980s as well as making various statements referencing the age old misconception of homosexuality being an illness that needs curing and that the world would be better off with out it.