| The Naked Civil Servant | |
|---|---|
First edition cover |
|
| Author(s) | Quentin Crisp |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Autobiography |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Publication date | 1968 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 224 pp |
| Followed by | How to Become A Virgin |
The Naked Civil Servant is the first volume of an autobiography by the gay icon Quentin Crisp. It was later turned into a TV movie starring John Hurt, which was also titled The Naked Civil Servant.
The book started life as a radio interview with Crisp in 1964 conducted by his friend and fellow eccentric, Philip O'Connor, which was heard by the then managing director of Jonathan Cape, commissioned by him, and which was published in 1968. It only sold 3,500 copies when first released but became a success after a re-publication once the television version was shown. [1]
The book contains many anecdotes about Crisp's life from childhood through to middle age. It documents the troubles he faced because of his refusal to hide his homosexuality and flamboyant lifestyle during a time when gay sex was illegal in the United Kingdom. Crisp also recalls how he had many jobs including a book designer, nude model and prostitute.[1]
The title comes from Crisp's quip that being a nude art model is like being a civil servant, except that one is naked.