CRISPERANTO.ORG: All Things Quentin Crisp! The Quentin Crisp Archives: The Model Years

LEFT ME SPELLBOUND

by Francesca

I first met Quentin in 1943 when I was an art student and he was a "Naked Civil Servant." That first look at him was magic. I had never seen such a beautiful human being in my life and I still never have.

We got to know each other as he came frequently to model for our art school and I then became aware of how brilliant his brain was too. He took me out to meet his friends in Chelsea and Soho, among them a wonderful Russian artist, Olga Sievers, and a famous ballet teacher, Hilda (I don't remember her last name). He also gave me a copy of his great satirical book, All This and Bevin Too, mocking some of our stupid laws during WWII. Just to sit and listen to him left me spellbound. I adored everything about him. I knew then that he was sure to become famous and, of course, the TV show based on The Naked Civil Servant started it off.

Eventually he went to New York and I lost touch for quite a while. Then later I moved to California and saw an article in the Union Jack newspaper. As a result I was able to be reunited with him, after a gap of fifty years! I was in heaven just to be with him again. We kept in touch by phone after that.

I spoke to him just before he left for England, he was so happy. He told me all the places he would visit, but that he would be back in New York by December 3rd. I thought that horrifying flight to England might be too much for him. I expect he was very well aware of that too. I know he wanted to die and I am trying to be happy for him, but no one can ever take his place.

He said, "Everyone is unique but no one is totally unique." Well, he was. Goodbye, darling Quentin.