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At the age when most of us are either putting our feet up or pushing up daisies, Quentin Crisp emigrated to New York. And until his recent death he remained there, living at ease among the denizens of the Lower East Side. In England, he said, the system is benign but the people are uncaring; the system in the US is ruthless but people are friendly to a fault. These diaries are a record of the early ninties and they are a delight. Crisp has the gift to see things utterly afresh and is completely without fear. Each page contains an original insight, a marvellous character vignette or a hilarious observation. No room here to quote from this hugely quotable book; suffice to say there's a great fund of apercus for you to steal and pass off to your friends as your own. (Kirkus UK)
Placidly whimsical observations by the ever-charming Crisp (Manners from Heaven, 1985, etc.) on his occasion-filled life as "a free-loader, a dilettante, a butterfly on the wheel." Crisp writes reviews and essays, attends openings and parties, and entertains anyone who wishes to hear his opinions, from curious strangers to lecture-hall audiences. Here he tells us briefly about the books he read, plays and movies he attended, and other things he was invited to do from 1990 to 1994. These diaries, far from being especially intimate, are culled from a regular column he wrote for the New York Native. The 86-year-old author, an expatriate Briton, would have it that his urbane facade is all there is, that no unknown quirks of personality lurk beneath his flamboyantly gay, superhumanly gracious, and baroquely eloquent public persona. When a stranger calls him at his Manhattan rooming house to request a meeting, says Crisp, "Whenever possible, I comply with his or her request on the principle that we should never say no to anything except an appeal for money." (He's listed in the phone book, so this happens rather often.) He acted as an extra in the film Philadelphia and played Queen Elizabeth I in Orlando, an experience he describes entirely as a war of endurance against his unwieldy costume. He made numerous trips around the country in order to give lectures and to promote a documentary about himself, Resident Alien; the author's pronouncements on the virtues of his adopted compatriots suggest that he is among the most generous-minded people alive. His wit is often mordant, which saves him from utter preciosity: "I have always liked death, especially other people's death, but have recently been contemplating my own with a certain amount of relish." Admirers of the trademark Crisp style will be delighted, but it's difficult to fathom how he endures the relentless superficiality of much of his existence. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Placidly whimsical observations by the ever-charming Crisp (Manners from Heaven, 1985, etc.) on his occasion-filled life as "a free-loader, a dilettante, a butterfly on the wheel." Crisp writes reviews and essays, attends openings and parties, and entertains anyone who wishes to hear his opinions, from curious strangers to lecture-hall audiences. Here he tells us briefly about the books he read, plays and movies he attended, and other things he was invited to do from 1990 to 1994. These diaries, far from being especially intimate, are culled from a regular column he wrote for the New York Native. The 86-year-old author, an expatriate Briton, would have it that his urbane facade is all there is, that no unknown quirks of personality lurk beneath his flamboyantly gay, superhumanly gracious, and baroquely eloquent public persona. When a stranger calls him at his Manhattan rooming house to request a meeting, says Crisp, "Whenever possible, I comply with his or her request on the principle that we should never say no to anything except an appeal for money." (He's listed in the phone book, so this happens rather often.) He acted as an extra in the film Philadelphia and played Queen Elizabeth I in Orlando, an experience he describes entirely as a war of endurance against his unwieldy costume. He made numerous trips around the country in order to give lectures and to promote a documentary about himself, Resident Alien; the author's pronouncements on the virtues of his adopted compatriots suggest that he is among the most generous-minded people alive. His wit is often mordant, which saves him from utter preciosity: "I have always liked death, especially other people's death, but have recently been contemplating my own with a certain amount of relish." Admirers of the trademark Crisp style will be delighted, but it's difficult to fathom how he endures the relentless superficiality of much of his existence. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
The magnificently witty diaries of ‘one of the great stately homos of England’, covering his recent years in New York City – a transatlantic Alan Bennett.
The diaries of Quentin Crisp, a well-known homosexual, giving his views on politics, prejudice and human nature.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a funny, charming and very positive account of Quentin Crisp's unusual life in New York City. Although Crisp was in his seventies or eighties when he wrote these journals, he was remarkably active and alert. Given the writer's general unconventionality, one might expect that these journals would be shocking or risqué, but they are neither. Crisp is far too much of a gentleman for that.
After reading Resident Alien I felt better about the world, more tolerant towards others and better about myself. Quentin Crisp, who is now dead, had a special gift for cheering others up and for making the world seem like a less dreary place. This book is delightful.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
And so, after his thoroughly entertaining and revealing book, The Naked Civil Servant, we find Mr Crisp entering the next significant period of his life.
Having made the extraordinary decision to leave England he found himself high and dry on American shores. This action is remarkable for he was living in a kind of self-imposed prison in London. Hardly daring to venture outside his room it was on only the assurance of an acquaintance that he might have a place to stay that he made him take this extraordinary leap of faith.
After being seriously let down he eventually found quarters similar to those he had enjoyed in England. An extremely cheap room - this time in downtown New York. And from there on his life changed for the better.
Resident Alien is unlike The Naked Civil Servant in that it's a loose collection of diary entries that serve as a kind of later autobiography. Still utterly absorbing and filled with Crisperanto it describes how the gay and artistic community accepted him wholeheartedly. He still got his share of crank calls, after all if his name was not in the telephone directory how would people be able to call him?
The film of his first book was known and he would swiftly become part of the 'scene'. Now something of a hero for gay rights he attended screenings, gave talks and was generally invited to all sorts of events across the United States on what he called the 'peanut and nodding racket'. That is to say those events provided food and with his failing hearing he could (on noisy events) resort to simply indicating his assent.
He was to appear in, or be the subject of, many films. He was to give performances in which he described his way of life, his life so far and his thoughts on life in general. Now, rather than people shutting him in, they now came to his door.
Resident Alien is filled with Mr Crisp's wit and charm and his effortless style will guide the reader to the last page all too easily. Entertaining and informative to the last I found this book easy to pick up again and again for the sheer joy of it all.
Those wishing to experience further should look to the recordings of the 'audiences' he gave in which he not only described his past but tackled issues presented to him by those bold enough to ask.
Quentin was not an eccentric but an individual. An individual with great experience, charm and intellectual dexterity. He was rightly considered a champion for gay rights but was actually so much more.
Having made the extraordinary decision to leave England he found himself high and dry on American shores. This action is remarkable for he was living in a kind of self-imposed prison in London. Hardly daring to venture outside his room it was on only the assurance of an acquaintance that he might have a place to stay that he made him take this extraordinary leap of faith.
After being seriously let down he eventually found quarters similar to those he had enjoyed in England. An extremely cheap room - this time in downtown New York. And from there on his life changed for the better.
Resident Alien is unlike The Naked Civil Servant in that it's a loose collection of diary entries that serve as a kind of later autobiography. Still utterly absorbing and filled with Crisperanto it describes how the gay and artistic community accepted him wholeheartedly. He still got his share of crank calls, after all if his name was not in the telephone directory how would people be able to call him?
The film of his first book was known and he would swiftly become part of the 'scene'. Now something of a hero for gay rights he attended screenings, gave talks and was generally invited to all sorts of events across the United States on what he called the 'peanut and nodding racket'. That is to say those events provided food and with his failing hearing he could (on noisy events) resort to simply indicating his assent.
He was to appear in, or be the subject of, many films. He was to give performances in which he described his way of life, his life so far and his thoughts on life in general. Now, rather than people shutting him in, they now came to his door.
Resident Alien is filled with Mr Crisp's wit and charm and his effortless style will guide the reader to the last page all too easily. Entertaining and informative to the last I found this book easy to pick up again and again for the sheer joy of it all.
Those wishing to experience further should look to the recordings of the 'audiences' he gave in which he not only described his past but tackled issues presented to him by those bold enough to ask.
Quentin was not an eccentric but an individual. An individual with great experience, charm and intellectual dexterity. He was rightly considered a champion for gay rights but was actually so much more.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The epitome of English eccentric-ness, no wonder the US of A took him to their heart. Get this book and you will laugh...
The only sadness is the dear Quentin is no longer among us.
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