Dandy in the Underworld: An Unauthorized Autobiography – A Disarming Memoir in the Tradition of Byron and Wilde

Dandy in the Underworld: An Unauthorized Autobiography – A Disarming Memoir in the Tradition of Byron and Wilde

In the honorable tradition of the eccentric dandyism of Lord Byron, Oscar Wilde, and Quentin Crisp comes Sebastian Horsley's disarming memoir of sex, drugs, and Savile Row. Copyright © 2008 Click here to subscribe to The New Yorker London artist Horsley’s debut memoir is evidence that truth can be stranger—and infinitely more unsettling—than fiction. Born to an alcoholic mother who took a pill overdose while pregnant, Horsley is determined to leave his demented mark on the world. In that, at least, he succeeds. Among his exploits: a business venture with notorious Scottish ex-con-turned-sculptor Jimmy Boyle, a bath in excrement, and a crucifixion (literally) in the Philippines. There’s also crack and heroin addiction, randy sex, and petty theft (even though he’s rich enough for a Rolls Royce Corniche). Quips Horsley: “What is a kleptomaniac but a person who helps himself because he can’t help himself?” Horsley spends page after page obsessively describing his personal style; he dons antelope velour fedoras, Savile Row suits, and even sports a parasol on a shark hunt. Like Oscar Wilde and Quentin Crisp, Horsley has a scathing wit, and to his credit, he never spares himself. The result is an entertaining, if often disturbing, tale likely to make many readers grateful for their lackluster lives. --Allison Block “There is no life, anywhere, more worthy of a memoir than Sebastian Horsley’s. And fortunately for us, he’s as witty and talented in recording it as he is in living it. Dandy in the Underworld is my new personal Bible for unorthodox sparkly living - complete with crucifixion and loads of fornicating.” - Josh Kilmer-Purcell, author of the New York Times bestseller I Am Not Myself These Days “Delicious, vicious, fanatical fun.” - Heather McElhatton, author of the national bestseller Pretty Little Mistakes “Sebastian is an atheist, but the first I’ve ever met whose spiritual tradition doesn’t just come from a lack of imagination. His attempts to become other than he is, are epic.” - Nick Cave “I find myself experiencing greater ambivalence towards Horsley than I can ever remember feeling about anyone else. He is simultaneously enthralling, charming and fantastically annoying.” - Will Self “ Dandy in the Underworld is immortality for a while (a dashing immorality)” - Sarah Lucas, artist & film director “ Dandy in the Underworld is a compulsive autobiography that tells the blackest truths in the jauntiest tone.” - The Independent “Some of it’s so obscene you’ll feel guilty for reading it and some of it so cringeworthy you’ll be blushing, but overall, though Sebastian’s morals are questionable and his actions disgraceful, they make for a bloody good read” - Scarlett Magazine ““Horsley is full of Romantic darkness.... Dandy in the Underworld is a masterpiece of filth.” - Bryan Ferry “Sebastian Horsley’s autobiography explodes the myth that a ‘misery memoir’ must be as gruelling to read as it must have been to live. . . . If you can stand it, it is likely to be one of the most compelling reads of the year.” - Alexander Larman in the New Statesman “The fabulous and fascinating story of the flamboyant artist/writer/poet growing up in a family of chaos, alcohol and insanity. Beautifully written and unflinchingly honest, this is a mind-blowing tale of a life out of control.” - Elle (London) “Unlike most modern tales of dope and degradation, in Dandy in the Underworld the writing is exquisite, hysterically funny, and unapologetic. Highly recommended.” - Legs McNeil, author of Please Kill Me and The Other Hollywood, co-founder and writer of Punk Magazine “These memoirs offer the reader a consistently hilarious season in hell. . . .One of the funniest, strangest and most revolting memoirs ever written.” - Christopher Hart in the Sunday Times (London) In the honorable tradition of the eccentric dandyism of Lord Byron, Oscar Wilde, and Quentin Crisp comes Sebastian Horsley's disarming memoir of sex, drugs, and Savile Row. Sebastian Horsley has done just about everything you could ever think of, including writing for The Observer, New Statesman, and  The Independent. He also ran a monthly column for The Erotic Review , and published a memoir, Dandy in the Underworld: An Unauthorized Autobiography . Dandy in the Underworld An Unauthorized Autobiography By Sebastian Horsley HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 2008 Sebastian Horsley All right reserved. ISBN: 9780061461255 Chapter One Birth was almost the death of me When Mother found out she was pregnant with me she took an overdose. Father gave her the pills. She needed a drama from time to time to remind her that she was still alive. The overdose didn't work. Had she known I would turn out like this she would have taken cyanide. Still, even with a fine career as a failed abortion behind me, I couldn't wait to be born. Mother might just as well have tried to stop a meteorite. Hurtling towards the earth, in 1962 I