by Paul Bailey
First published 2001
This collection brings together writers, actors, and artists who knew Quentin Crisp, the self-proclaimed "stately homo" who became an icon of nonconformity. Contributors including John Hurt, George Melly, and Ronald Harwood share memories and reflections on Crisp's extraordinary journey through decades of London's creative underground. The book captures Crisp's wit and flamboyance as he navigated the theatrical world and gay culture of post-war Britain. From Soho's smoky clubs to Fitzrovia's artistic circles, these personal accounts reveal how Crisp refused every label society attempted to impose on him. The collection explores his impact on camp culture and his role in British theatre history. Through intimate portraits and critical assessments, the contributors paint a picture of a man who transformed his refusal to conform into a form of performance art, becoming both celebrated and controversial in equal measure.
Genres: 20th-century, memoir, biography-memoir, 21st-century, lgbt, gay-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, non-conformity
Setting: Fitzrovia, London, Soho
Period: Post-War Britain
288 pages · Paperback · Transworld Publishers