Items related to The Naked Civil Servant (Penguin Twentieth-Century...
A comical and poignant memoir of a gay man living life as he pleased in the 1930s
In 1931, gay liberation was not a movement—it was simply unthinkable. But in that year, Quentin Crisp made the courageous decision to "come out" as a homosexual. This exhibitionist with the henna-dyed hair was harrassed, ridiculed and beaten. Nevertheless, he claimed his right to be himself—whatever the consequences. The Naked Civil Servant is both a comic masterpiece and a unique testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
In 1931, gay liberation was not a movement—it was simply unthinkable. But in that year, Quentin Crisp made the courageous decision to "come out" as a homosexual. This exhibitionist with the henna-dyed hair was harrassed, ridiculed and beaten. Nevertheless, he claimed his right to be himself—whatever the consequences. The Naked Civil Servant is both a comic masterpiece and a unique testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
From the Back Cover:
"As soon as I stepped out of my mother's womb...I realized that I had made a mistake", Quentin Crisp declares, giving a small hint of the witty and wry approach he takes toward the life he describes with uninhibited exuberance in this classic autobiography, which is both a comic masterpiece and a unique testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Crisp not only came out as a gay man in 1931, when the slightest sign of homosexuality shocked public sensibilities, but he did so with grand and provocative flamboyance, determined to spread the message that homosexuality did not exclude him or anyone else from the human race. His hilarious descriptions of encounters with parents, friends, employers, soldiers and sailors, and the law reveal the strength and humor of an honest man, determined to face the world with the uncensored, unapologetic truth about himself.
About the Author:
Quentin Crisp was born on Christmas Day 1908 in Sutton, a suburb of London. After leaving school he became an illustrator and a designer of book covers before spending the next 35 years of his life as an artists' model. In 1981 he moved to New York City and became a resident alien, living in a one bedroom flat in Chelsea which he famously never cleaned ("After the first four years the dirt doesn't get any worse"), and describing himself as a "resident waif." He died in 1999, just one month short of his 91st birthday.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherPenguin Publishing Group
- Publication date1997
- ISBN 10 0141180536
- ISBN 13 9780141180533
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages224
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 13.68
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Seller Image
The Naked Civil Servant (Penguin Classics) by Crisp, Quentin [Paperback ]
Published by
Penguin Classics
(1997)
ISBN 10: 0141180536
ISBN 13: 9780141180533
New
Soft Cover
Quantity: 10
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9780141180533
Buy New
US$ 13.68
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Naked Civil Servant (Penguin Classics)
Published by
Penguin Classics
(1997)
ISBN 10: 0141180536
ISBN 13: 9780141180533
New
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # mon0000243197
Buy New
US$ 12.01
Convert currency
Seller Image
The Naked Civil Servant (Paperback or Softback)
Published by
Penguin Books 5/1/1997
(1997)
ISBN 10: 0141180536
ISBN 13: 9780141180533
New
Paperback or Softback
Quantity: 5
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback or Softback. Condition: New. The Naked Civil Servant 0.39. Book. Seller Inventory # BBS-9780141180533
Buy New
US$ 17.69
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Naked Civil Servant (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)
Published by
Penguin Publishing Group
(1997)
ISBN 10: 0141180536
ISBN 13: 9780141180533
New
Softcover
Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # I-9780141180533
Buy New
US$ 19.00
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Naked Civil Servant (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)
Published by
Penguin Publishing Group
(1997)
ISBN 10: 0141180536
ISBN 13: 9780141180533
New
Softcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Buy with confidence! Book is in new, never-used condition 0.4. Seller Inventory # bk0141180536xvz189zvxnew
Buy New
US$ 20.13
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Naked Civil Servant (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)
Published by
Penguin Publishing Group
(1997)
ISBN 10: 0141180536
ISBN 13: 9780141180533
New
Softcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. New! This book is in the same immaculate condition as when it was published 0.4. Seller Inventory # 353-0141180536-new
Buy New
US$ 20.13
Convert currency
Seller Image
The Naked Civil Servant (Paperback)
Published by
Penguin Putnam Inc
(1997)
ISBN 10: 0141180536
ISBN 13: 9780141180533
New
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. A comical and poignant memoir of a gay man living life as he pleased in the 1930sIn 1931, gay liberation was not a movementit was simply unthinkable. But in that year, Quentin Crisp made the courageous decision to "come out" as a homosexual. This exhibitionist with the henna-dyed hair was harrassed, ridiculed and beaten. Nevertheless, he claimed his right to be himselfwhatever the consequences. The Naked Civil Servant is both a comic masterpiece and a unique testament to the resilience of the human spirit.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. "As soon as I stepped out of my mother's womb.I realized that I had made a mistake", Quentin Crisp declares, giving a small hint of the witty and wry approach he takes toward the life he describes with uninhibited exuberance in this classic autobiography, which is both a comic masterpiece and a unique testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Crisp not only came out as a gay man in 1931, when the slightest sign of homosexuality shocked public sensibilities, but he did so with grand and provocative flamboyance, determined to spread the message that homosexuality did not exclude him or anyone else from the human race. His hilarious descriptions of encounters with parents, friends, employers, soldiers and sailors, and the law reveal the strength and humor of an honest man, determined to face the world with the uncensored, unapologetic truth about himself. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780141180533
Buy New
US$ 20.16
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Naked Civil Servant
Published by
Penguin Books
(1997)
ISBN 10: 0141180536
ISBN 13: 9780141180533
New
Softcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. pp. 224. Seller Inventory # 26660859
Buy New
US$ 17.88
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Naked Civil Servant (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)
Published by
Penguin Publishing Group
(1997)
ISBN 10: 0141180536
ISBN 13: 9780141180533
New
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Brand New Copy. Seller Inventory # BBB_new0141180536
Buy New
US$ 20.41
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Naked Civil Servant
Published by
Penguin Books
(1997)
ISBN 10: 0141180536
ISBN 13: 9780141180533
New
Softcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. pp. 224. Seller Inventory # 8235684
Buy New
US$ 16.79
Convert currency