Quite Quentin

If you search the name Dennis Pratt, no reference to a man, born in London in 1908 can be found. Most assuredly his parents would learn all too early that keeping this name for a lifetime would never change the makings of Quentin Crisp. Early on, QC knew he was a different sorta guy and assured his personal life voyeurs that from birth he was on a path of mild to maximum ridicule as his flighty hand movements and sweet little voice smacked of a queerness.

His boldness in dress and personality secured his place in the world to not fit in and would never be squelched. And often times QC found himself suffocated by his burning desires to express himself. Hats, feathers, dresses, brilliant night coats and heavy makeup, QC did not shy away from the spotlight nor could he avoid it. And, when the time came for Quentin to leave home, he did so, "with a red handkerchief full of cosmetics tied to a birch rod over" his shoulders.

Films, TV, recordings, books, and art, Quentin may be most remembered by his writings, The Naked Servant, where he shares his personal stories including how he made a living as a still life model, in the nude for some 25 years until his later years where body wear and tear forced him to sit for face work. I stumbled upon Crisp recently as I was pouring over some chilling Sting music. In the middle 1980's Sting was said to have interviewed Quentin who was the inspiration for the song, Englishman in New York. If you watch the video, you will see Quentin Crisp appear several times in the course of this chilling black and white. View Here
QC lived a flamboyant life until his death in 1999 at 91 years of age.