Biography of Quentin Crisp
November 21, 1999
Quentin Crisp, whose real name is Denis Charles Pratt, was born on December 25, 1908 in Sutton, Surrey, fourth son of Charles and Francis. After attending Epsom Kingswood Preparatory School (where he is teased because of her feminine attitudes) getting a scholarship to Denstone College, Uttoxeter, serves in the Official Team of cadets coming to lead it. In 1926 he left school and enrolled at King's College London to study journalism. Failed the goal to graduate, took art classes at the Regent Street Polytechnic. In the meantime he attended several cafes of Soho, including the "The Black Cat" of Old Compton Street, where he met Gigolo and other gay guys. After being prostituted for a few months, he decided to leave home and to change his name. Based in Central London, writes in 1938 "Colour in display", a manual for using colors in the Windows, to The Blandford Press; then try to join the British army at the beginning of World War II, but the Medical Committee declares it exempt from service because of what are called "sexual perversions".
Become a cartoonist, is recruited as a model for the art schools in London; in 1943 wrote a parable in verses, entitled "All this and Bevin too", starring a kangaroo unemployed. In 1968 he published his autobiography, entitled "The naked civil servant", which gets a moderate critical success. The opera is made into a tv movie, aired in 1975, which arouses much enthusiasm, to the point that Quentin Crisp is also required as a showman; in the same year he wrote "How to have a life style" for Cecil Woolf Publishing: it is an elegant essay dedicated to the personality and charisma. Strong success, Crisp organizes a show with which crosses the whole of Great Britain: the first part reads a wry monologue inspired by his life, while the second answers questions from the audience. In 1979 Quentin Crisp writes a tale dark illustrated by Jo Lynch, entitled "Chog: a gothic fantasy," before we landed with his show in the United States and to decide to move to New York: in 1981 is a rented apartment in the Lower East Side; at the same time, gives to the press his second autobiography, "How to become a virgin again", and "Doing him with style", made in collaboration with Donald Carroll. In 1985 she took part in the film "The bridge", which allows him to know the singer Sting, who will dedicate the (now famous) song "Englishman in New York".
In the 1990s, the author and actor, regardless of the age, is often called upon by the media, in spite of opinions not always politically correct (defines homosexuality as a terrible disease and Aids a fad); in 1993 she starred in the film "Orlando," playing the role of Elizabeth I en travesti, persuaded by Sally Potter; on Channel 4 is leading a alternative to the Christmas speech of Queen Elizabeth II. Three years later, takes part in the making of the documentary "The celluloid closet", dedicated to the representation of homosexuality in Hollywood films. Gay icon Quentin Crisp died ninety years, on November 21, 1999, in the suburbs of Manchester, Chorlton-cum-Hardy. His corpse is cremated, and his ashes were scattered in Manhattan.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.