| rdfs:comment | - From a conventional suburban background, Crisp grew up with effeminate tendencies, which he flaunted by parading the streets in make-up and painted nails, and working as a rent-boy. He then spent thirty years as a professional model for life-classes in art colleges, which he said was like being a naked civil servant. His agent suggested that this should be the title of his memoirs, which appeared in 1968. The interviews he gave about his unusual life attracted increasing public curiosity, and he was soon sought-after for his highly individual views on social manners and the cultivating of style. His one-man show was a long-running hit, both in England and America, and he also appeared in films and on TV.
- According to the definitive work on Crisp (Crisp on Crisp by Quentin Crisp), Crisp never tired of hearing his name mentioned. Amazingly, he was born to normal parents, and their bland outlook on life forever haunted him. Always one with a sharp tongue ready to toss off bons mot and guardsmen, the first words out of his childlike mouth came when he pointed at some shirtless gardeners, the bead of sweat shimmering on their taut pale white british man-breasts working in the family's back yard and joyously exclaimed: “See men!”
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| abstract | - From a conventional suburban background, Crisp grew up with effeminate tendencies, which he flaunted by parading the streets in make-up and painted nails, and working as a rent-boy. He then spent thirty years as a professional model for life-classes in art colleges, which he said was like being a naked civil servant. His agent suggested that this should be the title of his memoirs, which appeared in 1968. The interviews he gave about his unusual life attracted increasing public curiosity, and he was soon sought-after for his highly individual views on social manners and the cultivating of style. His one-man show was a long-running hit, both in England and America, and he also appeared in films and on TV. As a high-profile gay person, Crisp defied convention by criticizing both Gay Liberation and Diana, Princess of Wales.
- According to the definitive work on Crisp (Crisp on Crisp by Quentin Crisp), Crisp never tired of hearing his name mentioned. Amazingly, he was born to normal parents, and their bland outlook on life forever haunted him. Always one with a sharp tongue ready to toss off bons mot and guardsmen, the first words out of his childlike mouth came when he pointed at some shirtless gardeners, the bead of sweat shimmering on their taut pale white british man-breasts working in the family's back yard and joyously exclaimed: “See men!” At an early age, he settled on a career of being the center of attention, and thrust himself into the role with great gusto, and into a dinner role with green pesto. Crisp loved playing the odd duck out and did so by wearing lipstick to nursery school. When the Vicar demanded to know why a young lad like himself was wearing lipstick, and not much more, the five year old Crisp replied that the shade of the “lipstick flatters my translucent skin and thin, yet sensuous lips.” In 1910 Quentin prepared his first oratory entitled "I want to be just Like Oscar Wilde, but not get caught doing it" in which he lauded the Irish wit.
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