The Naked Civil Servant Book

There are many people famous for doing nothing or very little, who command high salaries for their appearances. Some have done nothing at all, like the entire money and fame-mad Kardashian family (but in this time of recession they are definitely doing their bit to keep the cosmetics industry afloat), some are going to exploit their name and connections, like the Prince Harry and Megan Markle. Some have done just a little but their train-wreck life style continues to fascinate, like Lindsey Lohan and Miley Cyrus. When interviewed they fall flat, they have nothing to say that hasn't been scripted, they have no personalities and no ambitions other than to be famous, rich, beautiful and young forever and ever. Such is their empty philosophy. What they do all have in common is spin doctors, PR companies paid to tirelessly promote these nonenties as products they can make a percentage from.

Quentin Crisp had done absolutely nothing at all (other than being a naked life-class model) to deserve fame, but the force of his personality and his immense moral values brought him fame on the stage, in print and on film. It takes a huge personality to have done nothing and achieve all that. No publicity machine for him.

What he had done is what we would all love to do but don't have the courage. He lived his life exactly as he wanted to, making concessions only where he had to, and then was totally honest about what he had done and why. He hid nothing, not even the sleazy times of prostitution, or worse perhaps. He didn't even hide his filthy ways - he rarely washed and never, ever cleaned his house. He did say it didn't get any worse after the first four years, but later he said he'd been wrong, and in fact it did.

In real life and on the stage he was just himself - he spoke from his heart and not from a script. The script that John Hurt followed when playing Quentin Crisp in two films had been approved by him. No script, but he did have an agenda.

He had been charged with importuning in the street. He wasn't guilty, that time, but was the victim of some nasty, homophobic policemen's stitch-up. His defence was magnificent. He laid his entire life on the line and was acquitted by a judge who had started out not just unsympathetic but actively despising this ageing queer with makeup and pastel-coloured hair. Quentin Crisp's message to the court was that morals have nothing to do with the law, if you haven't broken the law you are innocent no matter how you want to live your life. Find your own moral compass and be true to it. Help others be true to theirs.

The world was less colourful, less moral and less witty the day Quentin Crisp passed away. Read his book AND see the films to see this man and admire his strength, personality and rather witty, gay turn of phrase.